Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty has set May 20, 2026 as the date for a report in the high-profile Mobil gas station bombing case, which claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne.
When the matter was called in court on Monday, Legal Aid Attorney-at-Law Shellon Boyce, representing prime suspect Venezuelan national Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, requested a two-week period to prepare a proposal to be presented to Prosecutor Mandel Moore ahead of the next hearing.
The case stems from the tragic events of Sunday, October 26, 2025, when a bomb left at the Regent and King Streets Mobil gas station was detonated, killing the young child, injuring several of her relatives and causing significant damage to nearby properties.
Seven individuals were charged in connection with the incident — four Venezuelan nationals and three Guyanese: Wayne Corriea, Ramesh Pramdeo, Krystal LaCruz, Jennifer Rodriguez, Johnny Boodram, Alexander Bettancourt and Poedemo, who is considered the prime suspect.
During a previous court appearance, Poedemo accepted responsibility for the act, repeatedly claiming sole responsibility and maintaining that the other accused are innocent. However, Acting Chief Magistrate McGusty made clear that his admission does not automatically exonerate the co-accused, emphasising that their fate rests with the Director of Public Prosecutions, who must independently review the evidence against each individual. The prosecution similarly stressed that Poedemo’s admission applies only to him.
Following the arrests nearly six months ago, Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond indicated that authorities would pursue the death penalty against Poedemo — a position reinforced by Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, who stated at a joint press conference in October that the penalty for terrorism resulting in death is capital punishment.
Under Guyana’s Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Act of 2015, and provisions introduced through amendments to the Criminal Law (Offences) Act in 2002, a terrorist act that results in death under Section 309A(1)(b)(i) carries the possibility of the death penalty.
