Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty will rule on November 10 on whether four accused in the deadly October 2025 Mobil Service Station bombing should stand trial in the High Court.
At Monday’s hearing, McGusty said the prosecution had responded to no-case submissions filed by the defence, paving the way for her decision on whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed.
The submissions were filed on September 9 on behalf of Venezuelan nationals Jhonny Boodram and Alexander Bettencourt, and Guyanese-Venezuelan national Krystal LaCruz.
Bettencourt is represented by attorney Melvin Duke, Boodram by Mikel Puran, and LaCruz by Tifane Rutherford.
Venezuelan national Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, described by prosecutors as the alleged mastermind, did not file a submission.
His attorney, Shellon Boyce, previously told the court that her client would abide by the ruling.
The prosecution, led by Senior Police Advisor Mandel Moore, formally closed its case on July 8.
Its final submissions included video recordings, 43 photographs of the Mobil Service Station at the corner of Regent and King streets, witness statements, and forensic and DNA reports prepared by specialists in India.
Under the paper committal process, the magistrate examines documentary evidence to determine whether a prima facie case exists.
If the evidence is sufficient, the accused will be committed to stand trial in the High Court in Demerara; otherwise, they may be discharged.
Poedemo is charged under Section 3(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act with allegedly placing and detonating an explosive device to threaten Guyana’s security and sovereignty or terrorise the public.
Bettencourt, Boodram and LaCruz are charged with aiding and abetting the alleged terrorist act.
The charges stem from the October 26, 2025, explosion at the Mobil Service Station at the corner of Regent and King Streets in Georgetown, which killed six-year-old Soraya Bourne while she was inside a vehicle with relatives.
Several family members were injured, and nearby buildings and vehicles were damaged. All four accused remain on remand.
Three others were initially charged.
In April, Guyanese nationals Ramesh Pramdeo and Wayne Correia were discharged after Magistrate Alisha George upheld a no-case submission.
Their co-accused, Venezuelan national Jennifer Rodriguez, was committed to stand trial for aiding and abetting terrorism and remains on remand after being denied bail.
Investigators have alleged that Poedemo entered Guyana by boat from Venezuela hours before the bombing and admitted bringing the explosive device into the country.
Police also alleged that he identified himself as a member of the Venezuelan gang known as “Organisation R”.
The Government has indicated it intends to seek the death penalty against anyone convicted, as Guyana’s anti-terrorism laws provide for capital punishment where a terrorist act results in death.
The four accused remain on remand as they await McGusty’s November 10 ruling, which will determine whether they are committed to stand trial in the High Court or discharged for insufficient evidence.
