Khan requested to provide names of witnesses
Kaieteur News
November 5, 2006
The U.S. Government will draw on the resources of several experts, including a member of the Dug Enforcement Administration (DEA), to testify against Guyanese Shaheed ‘Roger' Khan who is on remand in an American prison awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking in that country.
According to official documents obtained by Kaieteur News, the U.S. Government anticipates calling an expert from the DEA laboratory to testify regarding the weight and purity of narcotics seized in this case.
Khan's attorneys have been notified by the U.S. that an expert will also testify that the amount of cocaine involved in the case is an amount consistent with distribution and not personal use.
The U.S. notes that the expert will also testify as to the monetary value of the amount of drugs involved in this case, including the wholesale value and the street value of such drugs.
According to official documents, the U.S also anticipates calling an expert to testify regarding drug smuggling methods and practices, and drug importation organizations.
Khan has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. His next court date is set for December 6.
The U.S. has made available to Khan's lawyers DEA laboratory reports connected to the case.
The U.S. Department of State is requesting that Khan disclose, prior to any given hearings, statements of witnesses who will be called to testify on his behalf.
Copies of statements by these defendants are also requested to be produced to the government no later than the commencement of trial.
A written summary of testimony that Khan intends to use as evidence at his trial is also asked to be produced.
The U.S. states that the summary should describe the opinions of the witnesses, the bases and reasons for those opinions, and the qualification of the witnesses.
The U.S. Department of Justice has demanded written notice of Khan's intention, if any, to claim a defense of actual or believed exercise of public authority, and also demands the names and addresses of the witnesses upon whom the defendant intends to rely in establishing the defence identified in the notice.
Kaieteur News understands that the U.S. Department of Justice had made available to Khan's attorney's a copy of a compact disc containing copies of items seized from a property of the defendant in Guyana. However, the defence claimed that it could not access the details contained on the compact disc, prompting the prosecution to re-send the information.
Khan's U.S.-based attorney, Simels, has indicated that the defense intends to subpoena two officials, one from the DEA in Trinidad and Tobago and the other from the United States Embassy in Guyana .
The U.S. is in receipt of an inventory of Khan's personal property, and has agreed to make available to Khan's lawyers copies of documents and statements it intends to introduce in court.
The U.S. Government has notified Khan's lawyers that it intends to give notice in a timely fashion of any expert it intends to call at the trial, and will be providing a summary of that expert's opinion.
The U.S. is also requesting of Khan that he allows inspection and copying of any books, papers, documents, photographs, tapes, tangible objects, or copies or portions that are in his possession, custody or control.
The government has also requested information that the defendant intends to introduce as evidence or otherwise rely on at the trial, and any results or reports of physical or mental examinations and of scientific tests or experiments, including fingerprint analyses, made in connection with the case.
At a previous hearing, the U.S. signalled that it intends to offer Khan a plea deal.
Khan's local attorney, Glenn Hanoman, explained that US authorities are required to fill out a form, and should the accused request a plea bargain, an appropriate box is ticked off.
According to Hanoman, prosecutors may have ticked off the plea deal box in an apparent bid to cajole Khan into proposing a deal.
Khan has reportedly stated that he was making no such deal unless the authorities produce the evidence against him.
The Guyanese was arrested in Suriname along with Paul Rodrigues, Lloyd Roberts and Sean Benfield, where they had fled from Guyanese authorities, who had issued wanted bulletins for them.
Suriname authorities had accused him of planning the assassination of key governmental figures there.
Khan was named as a ‘known drug trafficker' in the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR).