Judge allows closure, reopening of Prosecution
JUSTICE Dawn Gregory, yesterday, allowed the prosecution to close and reopen in the Soesdyke carnal knowledge case at the Demerara Assizes.
The judge permitted the closure and reopening to give attorney-at-law Mr. Paul- A-Fat opportunity to cross-examine witnesses, who had testified before he was retained for the defence of mini-bus driver Rayan Khan called ‘Mickie’. Fung-A-Fat applied for and was granted an adjournment, to today, to study the evidence led, so far.
Among those to be cross-examined are the alleged victim and her mother.
When the accused was arraigned, several days ago, Justice Gregory offered then undefended Khan a chance to retain a lawyer but he did not succeed.
Consequently, State Prosecutors Teshana James and Rhondel Weever presented witnesses, including the virtual complainant, now 16 years old, who told the Court she was 13 when the accused took her to his Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara home and sexually assaulted her.
In her opening address, James, leading the prosecution, said the offence was committed on May 31, 2008.
After the original closure of the State’s case yesterday, the judge had called upon the accused for a defence, when he disclosed that he would be represented by Fung-A-Fat.