Benschop Treason Trial Related Links: Mark Benschop Letters Menu Archival Menu Benschop fails in bid to move up trial date July 3, 2004 Judge finds motion was duplicate of matter already determined July 3, 2004 Benschop’s Constitutional case adjourned to July 9 June 24, 2004 Ruling in Benschop's Constitutional case set for June 18 June 7, 2004 Benschop in good health May 26, 2004 Corbin meets with Benschop in prison October 4, 2003 Benschop to stand trial February 27, 2003 Benschop committed to stand jury trial for treason February 27, 2003 Chaos in court as judge denies bail petition February 22, 2003 Judge again defers decision on Benschop bail application February 21, 2003 Decision in treason case inquiry reserved for Wednesday February 20, 2003 Benschop treason verdict Wednesday February 20, 2003 Benschop’s lawyers conclude defence February 18, 2003 Defence claims no evidence against treason accused February 18, 2003 Ruling on bail petition next Thursday February 14, 2003 Magistrate charges Defence Counsel, Police with delaying inquiry February 14, 2003 Decision on Benschop bail application February 20 February 14, 2003 Treason inquiry adjourned as defence witnesses absent February 14, 2003 Magistrate rules on privileged information issue February 12, 2003 Treason inquiry adjourned to tomorrow at Defence request February 12, 2003 Prosecution says Defence application is without merit February 11, 2003 Bail granted in Zimbabwe treason case February 8, 2003 Lawyers clash over disclosure of police, DPP correspondence February 7, 2003 Current Zimbabwe case cited in support February 7, 2003 Another dispute between Prosecution, Defence in treason case February 7, 2003 Arguments begin on Benschop bail petition February 6, 2003 Lawyer says judge has discretion for grant February 6, 2003 Defence argues for removal of special prosecutors February 5, 2003 Arguments over status of Prosecution lawyers stall proceedings February 5, 2003 Magistrate Sohan resumes sitting at treason inquiry February 4, 2003 Treason PI to resume today February 4, 2003 Prosecution to respond to Benschop bail application February 3, 2003 Opposing side granted leave to file answering affidavit February 1, 2003 Benschop's lawyers petition High Court for bail January 31, 2003 Benschop bail application hearing today January 31, 2003 Treason hearing postponed again January 28, 2003 Treason inquiry further postponed January 18, 2003 Treason trial postponed January 9, 2003 Witness absent, hearing adjourned to January 8 December 18, 2002 Magistrate upholds defence arguments on self-incrimination December 17, 2002 Shouting, outbursts from Benschop mar proceedings December 13, 2002 Absence of magistrate forces adjournment December 10, 2002 Benschop treason case adjourned until Monday December 7, 2002 Start of Benschop's defence adjourned until tomorrow December 5, 2002 No-case submissions overruled, Benschop called upon for defence December 3, 2002 Defence ‘No Case Submissions’ Overruled December 3, 2002 Benschop treason verdict deferred to December 2 November 22, 2002 Magistrate again defers ruling in Benschop treason case November 22, 2002 CJ asks attorneys to desist from speaking about case on TV November 19, 2002 Court disappointed lawyers discussed treason case publicly November 14, 2002 Media should not discuss matters under judicial consideration November 12, 2002 Defence contests admissibility of document not tendered November 3, 2002 Defence contests admissibility of document not tendered November 2, 2002 Lawyers in treason case argue over Official Gazette November 1, 2002 Prosecution begins final submissions October 31, 2002 Tempers flare among lawyers in treason case October 31, 2002 Prosecution to present final submissions today October 30, 2002 Defence begins no-case submissions October 29, 2002 State closes case as remaining witnesses unavailable October 24, 2002 Prosecution closes at treason case preliminary inquiry October 24, 2002 Twelfth, thirteenth witnesses for State complete testimony October 23, 2002 Two more witnesses testify, two others report sick October 23, 2002 Police clueless in search for Bynoe October 22, 2002 Preliminary elections results admitted at treason inquiry October 22, 2002 Magistrate’s absence forces postponement October 18, 2002 Chief Election Officer testifies October 17, 2002 Lawyers argue over tendering of 2001 elections results October 17, 2002 Eighth state witness testifies October 16, 2002 Restriction on counsel in Benschop treason case relaxed October 16, 2002 Perceived witness prompting draws protest from courtroom spectators October 15, 2002 Murmurings, exchange between lawyers at Benschop inquiry October 15, 2002 Sixth state witness testifies October 11, 2002 Third Presidential Guard witness testifying in treason case October 11, 2002 Defence objects to perceived witness prompting October 10, 2002 Magistrate puts restriction on counsel in treason case October 10, 2002 Presidential guard testifies October 9, 2002 Two lawyers join prosecution October 8, 2002 Defence continues to protest pace at treason inquiry October 8, 2002 Special prosecutor fears for his life October 6, 2002 DPP withdraws objections to Holder-Allen October 5, 2002 Magistrate to rule on treason case continuation Monday October 3, 2002 Prosecutor has ‘severe illness’ October 3, 2002 Benschop’s lawyers frustrated over treason PI delays October 2, 2002 Defence lawyers protest further treason case delay October 2, 2002 Prosecutor, Benschop exchange words September 26, 2002 Benschop, Special prosecutor in heated exchange September 26, 2002 Magistrate tells prosecutor to get on with it September 25, 2002 Benschop treason PI begins September 24, 2002 Treason PI to continue Monday September 21, 2002 Treason PI to continue Monday September 19, 2002 Magistrate to continue P.I. as charged September 19, 2002 DPP motion challenges Magistrate's ruling Chief Justice urges Sohan to proceed efficiently September 12, 2002 State to substitute charge against Benschop August 30, 2002 Magistrate orders substitute charge be laid August 30, 2002 Magistrate to rule on joint charge submissions August 29, 2002 Motion by Chief Magistrate challenging DPP claims August 20, 2002 Benschop treason PI to start August 28 August 6, 2002 Magistrate sets August 28 for Preliminary Inquiry August 6, 2002 Leave granted for affidavit July 31, 2002 Chief Magistrate secures private representation against DPP July 31, 2002 Produce Bynoe or substitute charge against Benschop - magistrate July 30, 2002 New magistrate to start treason inquiry next Monday July 30, 2002 Attorney Coddette’s chambers burglarised twice in a week July 26, 2002 DPP seeking to have Chief Magistrate prohibited from treason case July 26, 2002 Benschop warned about breaching prison rules July 24, 2002 Benschop again remanded, arrest warrant issued for Bynoe July 24, 2002 PI deferred until tomorrow July 24, 2002 Benschop appears on treason charge July 16, 2002 Benschop remanded on joint treason charge with Bynoe July 16, 2002 If you do not see the 'Guyana: Land of Six Peoples' drop-down menu on the left then please click here to enter through the front door which will give you additional options and information.