2 voir hearings wrap up in 2020 elections fraud trial

Trial in elections fraud case continued before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts last week with the conclusion of proceedings into two voir dire relating to the admissibility of evidence against co-defendants Denise Babb-Cummings and Enrique Livan. The rebuttal witnesses were called in Livan’s matter, while the completion witnesses were called in Babb-Cummings matter. Magistrate McGusty is now expected to hear from the lawyers on if they wish to make any written submissions before ruling on the voir dire proceedings.
Another voir dire involving evidence against former Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo, is also still scheduled to proceed.
Babb-Cummings, Livan and Mingo are three of nine co-defendants currently facing 19 charges of conspiracy to commit electoral fraud for the events that occurred following the March 2, 2020 General Elections. The other co-defendants include former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Minister Volda Lawrence, APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer Carol Joseph and former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employees Sheffern February, and Michelle Miller.

Among the offences these defendants are accused of committing are misconduct while holding public office; presenting falsified documentation; and planning to manipulate Guyana’s voters by presenting an inaccurate vote total. These charges stem from attempts to rig the 2020 Elections in favour of the then-ruling APNU/AFC.
The charges arose out of events that unfolded during the tabulation of votes in Region Four, the country’s largest electoral district. The controversy over the handling and declaration of results in that region triggered a political and constitutional crisis that extended for five months, drawing regional and international scrutiny. The impasse ended after a national recount and a series of legal challenges, culminating in the swearing-in of Dr Irfaan Ali on August 2, 2020.
The elections fraud trials first commenced on July 29, 2024 and was initially being heard by Magistrate Leron Daly. The trial was expected to run from July 29 to September 13, 2024. However, a series of delays and deferrals ensued and the matter was eventually brought before the court of now acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, who continues to preside over the matter.