Kaieteur grenade attack PI begins

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the case involving the grenade attack on Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall commenced before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Alfie Garraway, 36, of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown; Janiel Howard, 20, of Lot 322 Section C Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara and Leroy Williams, 25, of Lot 11 Durban Backlands are accused of conspiring with other persons to cause an explosion by way of grenade, likely to endanger lives and cause damage to property.

Constable Darson Larose took the witness stand where he gave evidence for the prosecution. He related that he only observed the crime scene at its initial stage and shortly after, handed over his investigation to his superior, Corporal Hosanna.
Under cross-examination by the defence team, it was established that Larose did not follow proper police procedure by penning the necessary entries into the station diary; however, he noted that he made entries in his personal diary that he has no qualms releasing to the court.
The prosecution’s second witness, Constable Dillon Pyle told the court that he was up to date with the investigation. He added that he saw one of the defendants, Janiel Howard, in the vicinity of the Linden bus park in Georgetown and arrested him after identifying himself as a “plain clothes” Police Constable.
He continued that he read the charge to him which says “he conspired with others to cause an explosion by way of grenade, likely to endanger lives and cause serious damage to property” and arrested Howard.
The defence team put forward to Pyle, as he was under cross-examination, that he was not up to date with the investigation, since he failed to let Howard know who he conspired with to cause the explosion. The defence team added that the day before Pyle made his arrest, Garraway was taken into custody and if Pyle was up to date with the investigation, he would have known such information.
According to the prosecution, a number of other witnesses are yet to take the witness stand to give evidence. The PI continues on September 9, 2016 before Chief Magistrate McLennan.