Prosecution discloses full evidence in Regent street gas station bombing, paper committal set

Full disclosure of evidence was made by the prosecution on Tuesday in the case involving four of the seven individuals charged in connection with the deadly bombing of a Georgetown gas station in October.

This move clears the way for the case to proceed to a paper committal, a process where a magistrate reviews written evidence to determine if there is sufficient basis to send the accused to trial in the High Court.

At a hearing before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Prosecutor Mandel Moore confirmed that all statements and forensic evidence, including test results from overseas, had been submitted. The disclosure includes forensic analysis results that had been pending from India, where two key items recovered from the crime scene were sent for examination.

Considering the new disclosure, the prosecution applied for the case to be heard via paper committal. Defence solicitor Mikel Puran, representing one of the accused, Johnny Boodram, requested additional time to review the newly provided evidence. The court granted his request, and the matter was adjourned to 30 December for further proceedings.

The four accused charged in the bombing are Venezuelan national Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, the alleged mastermind of the attack; Alexander Bettancourt; Johnny Boodram; and Krystal LaCruz. The explosion at the Mobil Petrol Station on Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, killed a six-year-old girl and sparked national outrage.

Seven individuals have been charged in connection with the bombing, which police believe was a coordinated attack. The remaining three accused – Guyanese nationals Wayne Correia, Ramesh Pramdeo, and Jennifer Rodriguez – face separate charges in different magisterial districts. Their case is scheduled for a hearing on 17 December.

Authorities allege that Poedemo entered Guyana illegally from Venezuela, conducted surveillance at the gas station, and placed an explosive device near the gas cylinder storage area before fleeing. The attack was widely condemned, with President Dr Irfaan Ali calling it a “vile assault” on the country.