Deadly Mobil gas station bombing: 3 accused challenge evidence, file no-case submission

The paper committal proceedings in the deadly October 2025 Mobil Service Station bombing case continued on Wednesday, with no-case submissions filed for three of the four accused before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The submissions were filed on behalf of Venezuelan nationals Jhonny Boodram and Alexander Bettencourt, as well as Guyanese-Venezuelan national Krystal LaCruz.
Attorney Melvin Duke represents Bettencourt, while Boodram is represented by attorney Mikel Puran. LaCruz is represented by attorney Tifane Rutherford.
However, attorney Shellon Boyce of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic told the court that no-case submissions would not be filed on behalf of Venezuelan national Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo.
Poedemo, whom the prosecution has described as the alleged mastermind behind the attack, is therefore the only accused for whom no submissions have been filed.
The four accused appeared virtually before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty.
Prosecutor Mandel Moore, Police Senior Advisor and Attorney-at-Law, requested time to respond to the defence submissions, prompting the magistrate to adjourn the matter to October 19.
The latest development follows a request by the defence in July for additional time to prepare written legal arguments challenging the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence.
At the July 15 hearing, the court granted the request and fixed September 9 for the defence submissions. Moore was also told he would be given time to prepare the prosecution’s response.
The prosecution had formally closed its case on July 8, after tendering its final batch of documentary evidence, including additional video recordings and 43 photographs depicting the Mobil Service Station at the corner of Regent and King Streets, Georgetown and the surrounding area.
Since the proceedings began in early June, the prosecution has presented extensive evidence, including witness statements, forensic and DNA reports from specialists in India, photographs, documentary exhibits and numerous video recordings gathered during the investigation.
The case is proceeding by way of a paper committal, where the magistrate reviews the documentary evidence to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the accused.
Unlike a preliminary inquiry, no oral testimony is heard during a paper committal.
Poedemo is charged under Section 3(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act with allegedly placing and detonating an explosive device with the intention of threatening Guyana’s security and sovereignty or terrorising the public.
His co-accused, Bettencourt, Boodram and LaCruz, are charged with aiding and abetting the alleged terrorist act. The charges arise from the October 26, 2025 explosion at the Mobil Service Station at the corner of Regent and King Streets in Georgetown.
The bombing claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne, who was inside a vehicle with family members when the explosion occurred.
She later died from the injuries sustained in the blast, while several of her relatives were also hurt. The explosion further damaged nearby buildings and vehicles.
The four accused remain on remand as the court considers the evidence presented by the prosecution.
Under the paper committal process, they are not required to enter pleas, with the magistrate ultimately to determine whether the evidence is sufficient for them to stand trial in the High Court in Demerara.
Following consideration of the defence and prosecution’s written submissions, Magistrate McGusty will determine whether a prima facie case has been established against the four accused.
If the court finds that sufficient evidence exists, the accused will be committed to stand trial in the High Court. If the prosecution fails to meet that threshold, they will be discharged.
The quartet is among seven persons who were initially charged in connection with the bombing, with the current proceedings concerning four of them.

2 discharged
In April, Guyanese nationals Ramesh Pramdeo and Wayne Correia were freed after Magistrate Alisha George, sitting at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, upheld no-case submissions made by attorney Bernard Da Silva.
The magistrate found that there was insufficient evidence to commit the two men to trial.
As a result of the ruling, the two men were discharged.
However, Venezuelan national Jennifer Rodriguez, who was jointly charged with Pramdeo and Correia, was committed to stand trial in the High Court on a charge of aiding and abetting terrorism.
Magistrate George ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Rodriguez, warranting her committal to the High Court.
Rodriguez was refused bail and remains on remand pending trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.
Investigators have alleged that Poedemo entered Guyana illegally by boat from Venezuela hours before the attack and admitted to bringing the explosive device into the country.
Police also alleged that he identified himself as a member of the Venezuelan Syndicato gang known as “Organisation R.”
The Government of Guyana has previously indicated that it intends to seek the death penalty against anyone convicted in the case under Guyana’s anti-terrorism laws, which provide for capital punishment where a terrorist act results in death.