Stabroek News
March 6, 2001

The start of the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the January 29 mid-air stabbing was put off yesterday because none of the witnesses turned up to testify.

Sharon Lall, the Guyana Chronicle reporter entangled in the mid-air drama was therefore ordered to return to Court on March 12. The Court was also informed that counsel Arif Bulkan will be looking into the victims' interest.

Lall was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder after she reportedly tried to kill pilot Yacoob Mazaharally and passenger Vidya Gooray while the aircraft he was piloting was over the Atlantic Ocean.

During her last Court appearance she was refused bail but subsequently secured surety in the sum of $150,000 from Justice Oswald Legall.

Commenting on the absence of talk show host Mark Benschop from yesterday's proceedings, Magistrate Oscar Parvatan said that the "whole issue has been blown out of proportion."

He noted that he never issued a warrant for the man but commented that had the television personality appeared before him, he would have asked him to desist from such activities - Benschop had broadcast a conversation he had with Lall during one of his shows even though the matter is sub judice.