Attorneys for Bisram don’t want case to go back to Berbice Magistrate

The attorneys for murder accused Marcus Bisram are requesting that the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into their client’s case be held before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.

Weeks ago, Senior Magistrate Alex Moore, who presided at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, recused himself from hearing the case and the matter was transferred out of the jurisdiction to Georgetown.

When the matter was called on Monday afternoon before Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus, attorneys-at-law Glen Hanoman, Sanjeev Datadin and Dexter Todd, asked for the matter to remain in Georgetown.

The attorneys are arguing that if the matter is transferred back to its old jurisdiction, a Magistrate in East Berbice‑Corentyne will have to preside over the PI.

According to the attorneys, that Magistrate has a close relationship with the state prosecutor which will be prejudicial to the defence case.

The attorneys contended that the Chief Magistrate has the power to keep the matter in the Georgetown district.

The attorney also made an application for the state prosecutor Prosecutor Stacy Goodings to be removed from the case.

The case was adjourned to January 15, 2020, for the Magistrate to decide if she will transfer the matter or let it remain at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court.

The Newsroom had reported that Magistrate Moore, had recused himself based on the instructions of the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings – Edwards.

The Senior Magistrate received a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to recuse himself followed by a petition which said he was biased.

The petition detailed that on the December 2 at the Whim Magistrate’s Court, Moore was “openly prejudicial” and bias against the prosecution which is led by State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings.

The petition was filed by the family of Narinedatt.

Bisram is accused of orchestrating the brutal murder of 26-year-old carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt between October 31 and November 1, 2016.

The Police’s claim is that at a party on the night of October 31, Bisram made sexual advances against Narinedatt, including touching his penis, and when Narinedatt refused, by slapping him, he told others to kill the carpenter.