not necessarily granting them

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For three hours Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack led Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James in his evidence in chief during the last court hearing of the treason preliminary inquiry.The DPP ended her direction in the court at yesterday’s hearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.Appearing before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry, were the three persons accused of trying to overthrow the Guyanese government, Major Bruce Munroe, his wife Carol-Ann Munroe, and reserve Officer Leonard Wharton for the Preliminary Inquiry into the matter of treason.The accused are being represented by Defence Counsel Nigel Hughes.Colonel James who was identified as an officer of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), appointed as a staff officer, was presented to the court as a witness of the DPP.  The army officer revealed to the court what evidence he had in relation to the treason matter.Yesterday James appeared at the Magistrates’ Court again to continue his evidence. He was subsequently cross examined by defense counsel Nigel Hughes.The cross examination by the defense lawyer had to be cut short as time was against the court to accommodate all the lawyer’s questions. Hughes did indicate to the court that he was nowhere close to being finished with the witness. As of such the court asked that the line of questions be held back for the next court hearing.Two Thursday’s earlier the magistrate had informed the DPP that the court would have entertained the applications of the defence, not necessarily granting them, but that she would take into consideration the defense lawyer’s application.The matter had been adjourned at that hearing since it was revealed that the DPP would not have been available for trial due to her being unwell and with Sonya Joseph, a prosecutor in the matter, being on annual leave.Nigel Hughes then noted that it was the fifth or sixth time the prosecutors were not available for the matter. The court as well as the defense had both expressed disappointment and disapproval of the continued lack of consistency of the prosecution.A very strong message was sent to the DPP on that occasion.The defence will continue its cross examination of Colonel James on November 8 when the preliminary inquiry continues.