Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty will rule on November 10 on no-case submissions made on behalf of three people charged in connection with the October 2025 bombing of a Regent Street gas station, which killed six-year-old Soraya Bourne.
Attorneys for Jhonny Boodram, Krystal La Cruz and Alexander Bettencourt made the submissions last month, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against their clients.
During proceedings yesterday, McGusty said the prosecution, led by Mandel Moore, had responded to the submissions. She fixed November 10 for her ruling.
Boodram is represented by attorney Mikel Puran, La Cruz by Tifaine Rutherford and Bettencourt by Melvin Duke.
The three, along with alleged mastermind Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodemo, face terrorism charges arising from the bombing.
Earlier this year, Ramirez Peodemo told the court that he was solely responsible and asked that the other three accused be freed. He subsequently withdrew his guilty plea after the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the terrorism charges against the other three Venezuelan nationals proceed.
Ramirez Peodemo’s state-appointed attorney, Shellon Boyce, told the court that her client would abide by its ruling.
The prosecution completed the tendering of its evidence in July. McGusty will consider the statements, reports and other documentary evidence before determining whether there is sufficient evidence to require Boodram, La Cruz and Bettencourt to answer the charges.
The bombing occurred at the Mobil gas station at Regent and King streets, Georgetown, on October 26, 2025, killing six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injuring four relatives. Stabroek News reported that Bourne was in a car at the station with her aunt, Jenica Hooper, grandmother Yvonne Jonas, and two other children when the explosion occurred at approximately 7.36 pm. Seven persons were subsequently charged in connection with the incident following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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