By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The high-stakes 2020 Election Fraud Trial reached its 53rd day on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The proceedings focused on a voir dire (a trial within a trial) for former GECOM staffer Sheffern February, as the court determines the admissibility of specific evidence or statements.
Presided over by Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, the session featured testimonies from three key police witnesses, all members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID):
- Lance Corporal Sharin Benjamin
- Inspector Jermaine Austin
- Inspector Jermaine Laundry
Following their evidence-in-chief, the officers faced rigorous cross-examination from defense attorney Eusi Anderson.
The Defendants and the Allegations
The trial centers on a complex web of 19 conspiracy charges involving high-ranking former election officials and political activists. The prosecution alleges that the defendants attempted to manipulate the results of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Key Figures Currently Facing Charges:
- Keith Lowenfield: Former Chief Elections Officer (CEO)
- Roxanne Myers: Former Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO)
- Clairmont Mingo: Former Region 4 Returning Officer
- Volda Lawrence: Former PNCR Chairperson
- Carol Smith-Joseph: PNCR Activist
- GECOM Staff: Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Michelle Miller, and Denise Babb-Cummings.
The Legal Road Ahead
With a witness list totaling approximately 73 individuals, the trial remains one of the most extensive in Guyana’s judicial history. The prosecution continues to lay out its case, aiming to prove that the defendants conspired to present inaccurate vote totals in favor of the then-ruling coalition.
The matter has been adjourned and is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 9:00 AM.
