By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty has rejected an attempt by the Prosecution to introduce a new witness statement in the ongoing 2020 elections fraud case, ruling that it would be unfair to the defense. The decision came on Wednesday as the matter marked its 25th sitting at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The Prosecution had applied in July to have witness Daniel Josh Kanhai submit an additional statement, despite him already giving an initial one earlier in the trial. Prosecutors argued that Kanhai’s recollection of events later expanded, prompting the new disclosure.
However, Magistrate McGusty noted that the trial has been before the court for five years and that Kanhai’s original statement—submitted between 2020 and 2021—already captured his version of events on a specific date. She stressed that the Prosecution is legally bound to disclose all witness statements in good time before trial, not midway into proceedings.
Citing case law, the Acting Chief Magistrate ruled that admitting a new statement “at this particular time of the trial would result in substantial unfairness to the defense.” She therefore ordered that the additional statement not be admitted as part of the disclosure.
Meanwhile, three police officers testified on Thursday. They were Romario Campbell, a former Constable who in 2020 served as a crime scene examiner, fingerprint analyst, and police photographer/videographer; Kevin Brown, an investigator attached to the CID’s Major Crime Unit; and Sergeant David Samnarine, stationed at the GPF Academy.
The case resumes on Friday. The defendants, including several former election officials, are collectively facing 19 conspiracy charges tied to alleged electoral fraud. The Prosecution has indicated plans to call 73 witnesses in total.
