Start of Marcus Bisram inquiry delayed after magistrate reports ill
The preliminary inquiry in the charge against Marcus Bisram, the alleged mastermind of the murder of a Corentyne carpenter, is now expected to commence next Monday after Magistrate Alex Moore reported sick ahead of the scheduled start at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
After the magistrate reported sick yesterday morning, the matter was called later at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, where Magistrate Peter Hugh adjourned the proceedings until next Monday. At the time, the state’s prosecutor, Stacy Goodings, was not present in court.
Bisram’s attorney, Sanjeev Datadin, who was present in court, then claimed that there seemed to be delaying tactics by the state as he questioned why the state prosecutor did not show up. However, a police prosecutor was there in her stead.
At Bisram’s first court appearance at the Whim Magistrate’s Court, Datadin had argued that the constitution stipulates a fair hearing within a reasonable time, while pointing out that Bisram is a guest of the state while incarcerated.
Bisram, who was not present in court yesterday, is now expected to return to the Springlands Magistrate Court on December 16th.
Bisram was extradited to Guyana late last month and was remanded to prison after he was charged with procuring and commanding the murder of Faiyaz Narinedatt in 2016. The charge states that between October 31st, 2016 and November 1st, 2016, at Number 70 Village, Corentyne, he counselled, procured and commanded Harri Paul Parsram, Radesh Motie, Niran Yacoob, Diodath Datt and Orlando Dickie to murder Narinedatt.
At Bisram’s second court appearance last week, Magistrate Moore, who was holding for presiding magistrate Renita Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s Court, since she is on leave, had insisted that the matter could be completed before the end of the year.
The state was expected to make a disclosure of statements at yesterday’s hearing, while there were also indications that a site visit would also be undertaken.
Magistrate Moore last week announced that the PI into charge would be conducted by way of paper committal proceedings, which he said could be completed before the end of the year.
The magistrate made the pronouncement after listening to representations from both the state prosecutor and Bisram’s attorney.
Magistrate Moore had also noted that since bail was out of his hands, he would ensure that the matter is dealt with expeditiously, as he pointed out that it seems to have become a norm for proceedings to be prolonged. During those proceedings Magistrate Moore, who insisted that the matter can be completed before the end of the year, also explained that he was not a “holding magistrate” who grants adjournments until the magistrate on leave returns. He said he actually attempts to get cases going so that the assigned magistrate can return to some progress. After an exchange with Goodings, the magistrate alluded to the possibility that he would “happily discharge” the matter if it is being delayed.