Defence attorneys on Wednesday began placing their written arguments before the court in the paper committal proceedings arising from the deadly October 2025 explosion at the Mobil Service Station on Regent Street, with submissions filed on behalf of two of the four accused.
The matter was called before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where it was revealed that submissions had been received on behalf of Venezuelan nationals Jhonny Boodram and Alexander Bettencourt.
Bettencourt is represented by attorney-at-law Melvin Duke, while Boodram is represented by attorney Mikel Puran.
Attorney Tifane Rutherford, who represents Guyanese-Venezuelan national Krystal LaCruz, told the court that submissions for her client would be made by midday.
However, attorney Shellon Boyce informed the court that no submissions would be filed on behalf of Venezuelan national Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, whom the prosecution has described as the alleged mastermind of the attack.
The four accused appeared virtually for Wednesday’s proceedings.
Prosecutor Mandel Moore subsequently requested time to respond to the submissions filed by the defence, and Magistrate McGusty adjourned the matter to October 19.
The latest development comes after the defence was given additional time in July to prepare arguments challenging whether the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant the accused being committed to stand trial in the High Court.
At the July 15 hearing, defence attorneys requested the extension, following the prosecution’s closure of its case on July 8.
The court granted the request and fixed September 9 for the defence submissions, while Moore was also given time to prepare a response on behalf of the prosecution.
The prosecution formally closed its case on July 8 after tendering its final batch of documentary evidence.
That evidence included additional video footage and 43 photographs depicting the Mobil Service Station at Regent and King Streets and the surrounding area.
The case is being dealt with by way of a paper committal, a process in which the magistrate examines the documentary evidence placed before the court to determine whether the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the accused.
Unlike a trial, no oral testimony is heard during this stage.
Since the paper committal began in early June, prosecutors have presented a substantial body of evidence, including witness statements, forensic and DNA reports, photographs, documentary exhibits and numerous video recordings collected during the investigation.
The prosecution alleges that Poedemo placed and detonated an explosive device with the intention of threatening Guyana’s security and sovereignty or terrorising the public, contrary to Section 3(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.
His co-accused—Bettencourt, Boodram and LaCruz—are charged with aiding and abetting the alleged terrorist act.
The charges arise from the October 26, 2025 explosion at the Mobil Service Station at the corner of Regent and King Streets in Georgetown.
The blast occurred while six-year-old Soraya Bourne was sitting in a vehicle with members of her family.
She subsequently succumbed to her injuries, while several relatives were also injured. The explosion caused significant damage to nearby buildings and vehicles.
The four accused are not required to enter pleas during the paper committal proceedings and remain on remand while the court determines whether the evidence is sufficient to send them to the High Court.
The current proceedings involve four of the seven people originally charged in connection with the bombing.
In April, Guyanese nationals Ramesh Pramdeo and Wayne Correia were freed after a magistrate upheld no-case submissions and found that there was insufficient evidence to commit them to trial.
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However, Venezuelan national Jennifer Rodriguez, who was jointly charged with Pramdeo and Correia, was committed to stand trial in the High Court on a charge of aiding and abetting terrorism.
The court found that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Rodriguez. She was refused bail and remains on remand pending trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.
With the defence submissions now before the court, the prosecution is expected to use the October 19 hearing to respond to the arguments.
Following consideration of the defence and prosecution’s written submissions, Magistrate McGusty will determine whether the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the four accused.
If the court finds that sufficient evidence exists, the accused will be committed to stand trial in the High Court. If the prosecution fails to meet that threshold, they could be discharged.
The law provides for the death sentence where a terrorist act results in death, and the Government has indicated that it intends to pursue the capital punishment in this case.
The matter will return to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on October 19.
