Bisram’s murder trial stalls over State’s unpreparedness

In light of delays in the Marcus Bisram case, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan says it is embarrassing that the State is not ready to prosecute the extradited murder accused, who is charged with orchestrating the murder of a 26-year-old carpenter in 2016.
When the case was called up at the Whim Magistrate’s Court, the prosecution indicated that it is not fully prepared to move ahead with the case. The matter was then adjourned to December 9 for the prosecution to submit all files relating to the matter.
But on that day, the presiding Magistrate, Alex Moore, reported sick. The defence team has since complained bitterly about the delays, especially since the State had to prepare its case while the extradition process was ongoing to get Bisram in Guyana from the United States.
When asked about these delays, Ramjattan told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday that situation is embarrassing.
“Well, that is very embarrassing if that is what the behaviour is… what you’re telling me there is rather disheartening,” he asserted.
According to the Public Security Minister, he will be looking into the matter. He noted that he will be talking to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as well as the Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary in relation to the prosecutor and the Magistrate, respectively.
However, Ramjattan noted that there is a file containing evidence upon which Bisram was charged last month. In fact, he posited that the necessary documents are all there and that the Police, particularly, the Crime Chief would have those documents.
But it was pointed out to the Minister that some of the statements in that file are yet to be submitted to the Court for the commencement of the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).
As such, he said “Well that again is rather surprising. It will be entirely embarrassing for the State to demand [Bisram’s] coming over and now that he’s extradited these officers are not up to the task of ensuring that they get the documents in time”.
Bisram is charged with the murder of Fayaz Narinedatt, a carpenter of Number 70 Village Corentyne, on November 30, 2016.
He is accused of ordering the death of the 26-year-old, which was initially reported as a suspected hit-and-run accident. It was later revealed that Narinedatt was murdered after he rejected sexual advances made by Bisram.
Further investigations led to five persons being charged and are now committed to stand trial in the High Court for the carpenters’ murder. Bisram was initially charged here in absentia and local Police have been trying since to get Bisram, a US-based citizen, in Guynaa but he had been fighting his extradition over the past two years.
But his efforts were futile and Bisram was eventually handed over to local authorities on November 20. He was then arraigned the following day at the Whim’s Magistrate Court.
After the court was told that the prosecution was not ready for commencement of the trial at the December 2 hearing, State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings did not show up when the matter was recalled on Monday.
Additionally, a scheduled visit to the scene of the murder was also postponed after the Magistrate had reported sick.