—Proceedings to continue on Thursday, five accused remain on remand
THE Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts has commenced an extensive review of evidence against four persons accused in connection with the deadly October 2025 bombing at the Mobil Service Station in the capital city.
Paper committal proceedings officially commenced on Monday, June 8, before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.
A paper committal is a pre-trial legal procedure in serious criminal matters where a magistrate assesses whether sufficient evidence exists to commit an accused to stand trial in the High Court, based solely on written material and without hearing live testimony.
The proceedings are expected to continue on Thursday, June 11, as the court examines the evidence gathered by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
More than 100 statements were formally tendered during the opening day of the paper committal exercise. The evidence includes statements from eyewitnesses, police ranks, investigators and other persons linked to the probe.
The evidence tendered on the opening day included a statement from accused Venezuelan national Jhonny Boodram, who is before the court alongside fellow Venezuelans Alexander Bettencourt and alleged mastermind Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, as well as Guyanese-Venezuelan Krystal LaCruz.
The charges stem from the October 26, 2025, explosion at the Mobil gas station at the corner of Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, which claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injured four of her relatives.
Several vehicles and nearby buildings were also damaged in what has been described as one of Guyana’s most serious national-security incidents in recent years.
Poedemo is charged separately with terrorism contrary to Section 3(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act. The charge alleges that he placed and detonated an explosive device with intent to threaten Guyana’s security and sovereignty or to strike terror among the public, resulting in the child’s death. The three other defendants are jointly charged with aiding and abetting Poedemo in the commission of the terrorist act.
Investigators have relied on surveillance footage, forensic analysis and numerous witness statements during the probe. Some forensic samples were also sent to India for advanced testing.
All four accused remain on remand.
The opening day of proceedings also saw the submission of a statement from Guyanese Ramesh Pramdeo, one of several individuals who had previously faced charges arising from the same investigation.
Pramdeo and fellow Guyanese Wayne Correia were discharged in April after Magistrate Alisha George upheld a no-case submission filed on their behalf by their attorney.
The court found that the evidence presented against the two men was insufficient to support the terrorism-related charges.
In contrast, their co-accused, Venezuelan Jennifer Rodriguez, was committed to stand trial in the High Court after Magistrate George ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against her. Rodriguez, who is currently on remand, is expected to go on trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.
The Georgetown proceedings now focus on the four-remaining accused in the central case.
During the paper committal process, Acting Chief Magistrate McGusty will examine the statements, reports and documentary evidence submitted by investigators before determining whether sufficient evidence exists to commit the defendants to stand trial before a judge and jury in the High Court in Demerara.
Senior Police Legal Advisor Mandel Moore is appearing on behalf of the State.
The commencement of the proceedings follows months of legal developments, including repeated assertions by Poedemo that he alone was responsible for the fatal explosion.
The Government has signalled its intention to seek the death penalty under anti-terrorism laws, which provide for capital punishment in instances where terrorist acts lead to the loss of life.
