Claim of Attorney General’s threat against Judge being looked at -Chief Justice

The new Chief Justice explained that Judicial Officers don’t usually make comments on issues that are under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere.

Claim of Attorney General’s threat against Judge being looked at   -Chief Justice

Newly appointed Chief Justice (acting), Roxanne George-Wiltshire on Tuesday said that the matter involving Attorney General Basil Williams and Justice Franklin Holder is under judicial consideration.

She made the comment on the side-lines of her swearing in ceremony at State House this morning.

“Yes I have [been briefed] and my only comment is that I am aware that it is being dealt with,” she said.

The new Chief Justice explained that Judicial Officers don’t usually make comments on issues that are under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere.

“On an issue like this which is also sub judice, I would not want to say much except that it is being dealt with,” she restated when pressed on a timeline for an outcome in the matter.

Attorney General Basil Williams has been accused by former Attorney General and PPP Member of Parliament, Anil Nandlall of threatening the life of Justice Holder, during an ongoing state case involving Trade Unionist Carvil Duncan.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall said Williams was lying when he rejected claims that he threated a High Court Judge.

Although Williams has denied the allegations of making any threat and the Judge has not commented on the matter, Nandlall is insisting that the Attorney General was unprofessional and unethical.

“His reckless utterances to Justice Holder was witnessed by at least two State Counsel of the AG’s Chambers, whom I have no doubt he will either force to remain silent, or lie for him, Carvil Duncan, Carvil Duncan’s Confidential Secretary, Diana Persaud, Rajendra Jaigobin, Attorney-at-Law, members of the press, two Marshalls of the High Court, my Personal Assistant Shivun Hutson, and a few persons who are unknown to me,” Nandalll claimed.

The Attorney General explained that while some of what he is quoted to have said is true, no threat against the life of the Judge was intended as is being interpreted by the former AG.

Williams recounted on Friday that just as he wrapped up questioning a witness in the case and as the Judge was leaving the bench, he enquired whether the answer of the witness had been recorded. He said the Judge questioned him about whether he was the one in charge of the Courtroom, to which his answer was no.

He continued, that the Judge said he took umbrage by the fact that he asked whether the answer was recorded because that would imply it was not.  The Attorney General said he told the Judge, that was not the intention.

He said he then recalled to the Judge a story that occurred a few years ago, when during a Court matter, a Magistrate asked him whether he was questioning if he had passed his law exams. Williams said in recounting the story about interpretation he mentioned to the Judge, that the Magistrate he was speaking of, was no longer around and had passed away.

Williams said he does not know how that statement made by him could ever be interpreted by the former Attorney General as any threat against the Judge who was in front of him.

The state-owned Guyana Chronicle reported on Tuesday, that while Justice Holder has written a statement to the Chief Justice on the issue, he has not claimed that any threat was made against him.

(by Kurt Campbell)

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