Guyana court sets Sept. 7 hearing in MV Barima murder case
Key Points(5)
- A magistrate has adjourned to September 7, the court case in which three people, including the captain of the ill-fated MV Barima , have been charged with murder after the 87-year-old vessel sank on July 18, resulting in the death of 72 people and more than 30 others missing and presumed dead.
- Kevin Price, alias ‘KP’, the 40-year-old captain of the vessel; his 42-year-old chief mate, Rondell Dwayne Roberts; and Delon Granderson, a 33-year-old goods superintendent appeared by Zoom before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.
- Price and Granderson were represented by attorney Dexter Smartt along with a team of lawyers, including Dexter Todd.
- Attorney Everton Lammy-Singh appeared for Roberts.
- During the proceedings, the prosecutor Mandel Moore said that he is now in possession of a fiat, the written authorisation permitting him to prosecute the matter.
A Guyana magistrate has adjourned until Sept. 7 the murder case against three men, including the captain of the ill-fated MV Barima, which sank on July 18, killing 72 people and leaving more than 30 others missing and presumed dead.
Captain Kevin Price, also known as "KP," 40; chief mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42; and goods superintendent Delon Granderson, 33, appeared via Zoom before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Charity Magistrate's Court.
Price and Granderson were represented by attorney Dexter Smartt and a team of lawyers that included Dexter Todd, while attorney Everton Lammy-Singh appeared on behalf of Roberts.
During the hearing, prosecutor Mandel Moore told the court he had received a fiat, the written authorization permitting him to prosecute the case.
The magistrate said the prosecution had provided partial disclosure of the evidence to the defense. Moore requested an adjournment until Aug. 31 to allow time for full disclosure, but because the Charity Magistrate's Court sits only on Mondays, the matter was instead postponed to Sept. 7, the next available court date.
The 72-count murder charges have sparked widespread criticism from defense attorneys, legal commentators and Guyana's opposition, who argue that the charges are premature because the search for victims is ongoing and the government-appointed Commission of Inquiry into the country's deadliest maritime disaster has yet to begin its work.
Police have defended the decision, saying the charges were filed on the advice of Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Hack.
Hack said she recommended charging the three men after reviewing the evidence, applicable legal principles, case law from the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth jurisdictions, decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, and public policy considerations.
Meanwhile, relatives, friends and residents gathered Sunday evening outside Roberts' home in Grove, East Bank Demerara, in a show of solidarity, arguing that the charges were intended to deflect attention from alleged government failures surrounding the disaster.
Several protesters carried placards declaring Roberts had been "wrongfully accused and imprisoned," while others expressed support for all three accused men.
Among the slogans displayed were "Transparency and accountability," "Free Rondell, Dellon and Kevin," "Float the boat, bring up the evidence," and "Justice for these three men. Families need closure."
One protester also voiced support for the government's decision to salvage the MV Barima rather than construct a memorial at the site, about nine miles offshore, where the vessel sank.
