The commencement of paper committal proceedings involving four of the seven accused individuals charged in connection with the deadly gas station explosion at Regent Street was delayed on Tuesday. The delay occurred after the alleged mastermind and another suspect secured legal representation, leading their attorneys to request additional time for document review.
The proceedings were scheduled to take place before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. However, attorney Shellon Boyce from the Georgetown Legal Aid Clinic entered an appearance for Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, one of the accused. She informed the court that she required time to review the prosecution’s documents and to meet with her client for instructions.
Similarly, attorney Melvin Duke appeared for Alexander Bettencourt, and both attorneys’ requests for time to review evidence and consult with their clients were granted by the court. Consequently, the case has been adjourned to March 23, 2026.
Poedemo is alleged to be the mastermind behind the explosion, described by authorities as a coordinated act, while Bettencourt and the other accused, Johnny Boodram and Kyrsyal La Cruz, did not have legal representation prior to this hearing.
The four individuals currently before the court are facing paper committal proceedings to determine the admissibility of evidence and whether a prima facie case exists to proceed to trial in the High Court.
The other three accused—Wayne Correia, Ramesh Pramdeo, and Jennifer Rodriguez—are dealing with separate charges in different magisterial districts.
