Magistrate Rejects Bid to Halt MV Barima Murder Case

A magistrate on Monday rejected an attempt to halt murder proceedings against three crew members charged in connection with the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima, clearing the way for the case to proceed as questions persist over the circumstances surrounding the disaster that claimed 73 lives.

Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir dismissed the defence’s application to stay the proceedings, ruling that continuing the criminal case while a government-appointed Commission of Inquiry (CoI) investigates the tragedy does not constitute an abuse of the court’s process.

In delivering his decision, Mohabir stated: