PRINCIPAL Magistrate Faith McGusty will on November 10 determine whether the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence for three of the four accused in the deadly October 2025 Mobil Service Station bombing case to be committed to stand trial in the High Court in Demerara.
The ruling is expected to bring a significant development in the paper committal proceedings, following the completion of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence and the filing of written legal submissions challenging the sufficiency of that evidence.
At Monday’s hearing before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, McGusty informed the court that the prosecution had submitted its response to the no-case submissions filed by the defence, clearing the way for her determination.
The submissions were filed on September 9 on behalf of Venezuelan nationals Jhonny Boodram and Alexander Bettencourt, as well as Guyanese-Venezuelan national Krystal LaCruz.
Their attorneys are arguing that the evidence presented is insufficient to establish a case against their clients and are urging the court to uphold the no-case submissions and discharge the accused.
Boodram is represented by attorney-at-law Mikel Puran, Bettencourt by Melvin Duke, and LaCruz by Tifane Rutherford.

However, no no-case submission was filed on behalf of Venezuelan national Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, whom the prosecution has described as the alleged mastermind behind the bombing. His attorney, Shellon Boyce of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic, previously informed the court that her client would abide by the court’s ruling.
The prosecution, led by Senior Police Legal Advisor and attorney-at-law Mandel Moore, formally closed its case on July 8, after tendering its final batch of documentary evidence, including additional video recordings and 43 photographs depicting the Mobil Service Station at the corner of Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, and the surrounding area.
The paper committal proceedings began on June 8, with the court examining an extensive body of evidence gathered during the investigation. This included witness statements, forensic and DNA reports, photographs, documentary exhibits, surveillance footage and recorded police interviews.

The magistrate’s task is to determine whether the prosecution has established a prima facie case warranting the accused being committed to stand trial before a judge and jury in the High Court. The process is conducted primarily through documentary evidence and legal submissions rather than the hearing of live testimony.
If McGusty upholds the no-case submissions, the affected accused would be discharged from the proceedings. If she rejects them, the case against those accused would proceed towards trial in the High Court.
The four accused are charged in connection with the October 26, 2025, explosion at the Mobil Service Station at the corner of Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, which claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injured several members of her family.
The blast also caused damage to nearby buildings and vehicles.
Poedemo is accused of placing and detonating an explosive device with the intent of threatening Guyana’s security and sovereignty or terrorising the public, resulting in Bourne’s death.
Bettencourt, Boodram and LaCruz are jointly charged with aiding and abetting the alleged terrorist act. The current proceedings involve four of the original seven accused.
In April, Guyanese nationals Ramesh Pramdeo and Wayne Correia were discharged after Magistrate Alisha George, presiding at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, upheld a no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against them.
Their former co-accused, Venezuelan national Jennifer Rodriguez, was committed to stand trial in the High Court on an aiding-and-abetting charge after the magistrate found sufficient evidence that she had assisted Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, who was wanted by police in connection with the bombing.
She remains on remand awaiting trial.
Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond has said the accused will face the full force of the law, confirming that the government will seek the death penalty for the terror attack, as provided for under Guyana’s anti-terrorism laws.
The Criminal Law (Offences) Act defines terrorist acts and prescribes penalties, including the death penalty when such acts result in the loss of life.