Last Friday, September 15, Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman upheld the No Case Submission made by the Defence and dismissed the cyber crime charge brought against Mr. Sherrod Duncan.
Duncan, a Member of Parliament in the Opposition, A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), January 17, 2023 was charged with the offence of “Using a Computer System to Humiliate a Person.”
The prosecution alleged that on January 11, 2022 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, in the Georgetown Magisterial District , Duncan used a computer system to transmit electronic data with intent to humiliate, harass or cause substantial emotional distress to Aneal Giddings.
Giddings is employed at the Guyana Elections Commission and last April was appointed Deputy Chief Elections Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Registration.
In the release, issued by Duncan’s attorneys, they said trial was conducted by Her Worship Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court, East Bank Demerara and the prosecution was represented by Police legal Advisor Mr. Mandel Moore.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the Defence argued that the Prosecution had not led sufficient evidence for Duncan to be called upon to lead a Defence.
After considering both written and oral arguments on behalf of the Prosecution and Defence, on September, 15, 2023, the Principal Magistrate upheld the No Case Submission made by the Defence and dismissed the matter against Duncan.
Duncan, who is also host of the on-line programmes “In the Ring,” “FYI” and newsletter “Credible Sources” was represented by attorneys Nigel Hughes, Narissa Leander and Iyanna Butts.
