The trial into the March 2020 General and Regional elections resumed on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts following the last hearing on September 26.
At the start of the proceedings, Magistrate Faith McGusty informed the court that she received a letter from defense attorney Eusi Anderson stating that he would be absent this week as he is out of the jurisdiction.
Defense attorney Nigel Hughes, unwell, joined the hearing virtually and requested that one of his colleagues hold for him.
Ronald Daniels requested to be excused for joining the proceedings a few minutes late. Daniels explained that one of the defendants, Roxanne Myers had a slip and fall and was therefore absent, another defendant, Keith Lowenfield was unwell, and Volda Lawrence was also unwell.
The magistrate noted that other defense attorneys, Dexter Todd and Darren Wade, had not communicated their absences.
She later informed the court that Wade was attending to multiple matters before the High Court.
The prosecution had several witnesses lined up for the completion of cross-examination, but this was not possible due to the absence of the defense attorneys. To allow the trial to proceed, Magistrate McGusty suggested that a witness already giving evidence be called to continue.
So, Lance Corporal Christopher Martin Douglas was called to the stand.
He testified that on August 31, 2020, at around 17:00 hrs, a request was made for a videographer to conduct an interview. He said he collected his equipment, set up the camera at the Major Crimes Unit, and recorded the interview.
While recording, Denise Babb- Cummings entered the room. Douglas explained that he ejected, marked, and lodged the discs after recording.
The video was not played in court since Babb-Cummings objected to its admissibility, citing the absence of Anderson, her attorney, during the recording and questioned the legitimacy of the footage.
Prosecutor Latchmie Rahamat argued that the video constituted legitimate evidence.
However, the magistrate postponed ruling on the matter. Daniels, the only defense lawyer present, declined to comment on the evidence without Anderson.
The court will wait for Anderson’s attendance before deciding on the video’s admissibility.
Following this, Dr Josh Kanhai was called to the stand for completion of cross-examination, continuing from September 26. He was cross-examined by Daniels.
He detailed the national recount conducted on July 9, 2020, explaining that every ballot box was reopened and carefully examined in the presence of party agents and observers.
Dr Kanhai also referenced correspondence between then-GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh and CEO Keith Lowenfield, which he said informed the final declaration of the results based on the recount figures.
Nine individuals are currently before the court, charged with conspiring to manipulate the March 2020 elections in favor of APNU+AFC in an attempt to deny victory to the PPP/C.
Those charged include Lawrence, Lowenfield, Mingo, and former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, among others.
The trial continue on Wednesday.
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