Jail term in Guyana could end in death:
THE United States Consulate in Georgetown has acknowledged approval of the necessary documents making it possible for the three young children of American-born David Hill known as Edward Washington or ‘Rabbi’, to travel to the US.
It could not be ascertained whether thirteenyear- old ‘ Crown’ Prince Oba, eleven- year- old Prince Ankoma and nineyear- old Princess Amilo will be returning to Guyana.
An official of the US Consulate told the Stabroek News that until further word is received from Washington, ‘Rabbi’ is to be given all the attention and wherever possible all the necessary assistance an American citizen is entitled.
Throughout the trials in the Magistrate and High Courts, a member from the US Consulate was present in Court and weekly visits are made to ‘Rabbi’ in prison.
The three children who have not been attending school recently, because of alleged threats to their lives, their mother ‘ the Queen’ claimed, were said to be staying with relatives in the US. They are entitled to US citizenship, explained the American Consulate official.
Meanwhile, ‘ Rabbi’s’ lawyer Mortimer Codette has disclosed to the Stabroek News that he is still awaiting a de tailed response to a letter sent by him to US Ambassador Clint Lauderdale in Georgetown.
In the letter dated October 31, the lawyer after noting that his client is a US citizen resident in Guyana, re ferred to the state of ‘ Rabbi’s’health, pointing out that his condition could deteriorate with death resulting before the fifteen-year sentence was finished. Codette in the letter acknowledged that Washington is a fugitive from justice in the United States and that his client has indicated to him that given the conditions of his health at this moment; he would prefer to serve a term of imprisonment in a US prison.
The lawyer has asked the US Ambassador to arrange for a member of his embassy to visit ‘Rabbi’ in prison to discuss what arrangements could be made in respect of Edward Washington’s early deportation from Guyana.
In the meantime, Codette informed the “Stabroek News” that the other three convicted men had made signed confessions in prison stating that they had committed the crime of murder without Rabbi’s’ knowledge.
Codette was still awaiting copies of the confessions.