Serial 2346
Nov 07, 79 • 1410 • Georgetown-State • 4981

[Editor’s note: This is a State Department cable that was included in the FBI’s 2009 RYMUR release of documents under the Freedom of Information Act. It was not included in the State Department’s own release, but we have included identifying information for it using the agency’s designations.]

FBA 82 [last number illegible]

[Listing of agencies receiving informational copies on pdf]

R 071410Z NOV 79
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 968
INFO RUEHFB/DIR FBI WASHDC
BT
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 4981
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CARR, GY (LAYTON, LAWRENCE [Laurence])
SUBJ: SECOND PRELIMINARY INQUIRY INTO MURDER OF CONGRESSMAN RYAN
REF: GEORGETOWN 4919

1. The third day (Nov 2) of the preliminary inquiry into the murder of Congressman Leo Ryan and five others at the Port Kaituma airstrip on November 18, 1978, was taken up by testimony from Eustace Lam, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Winston Gorin, medical doctor who examined Monica Bagby, and Neville Annibourne, an information officer from the Ministry of Information who had accompanied the Ryan party to Jonestown.

2. The GOG [Government of Guyana] seeks to have USC [United States citizen] Lawrence Layton indicted for the multiple murders as well as for attempted murder. In the absence of senior counsel for the defense Rex McKay, Layton’s defense was handled by counsel Stanley Moore.

3. The inquiry will resume on Nov. 5.

4. FYI: Vernon Gosney and Odell Rhodes, flew to Guyana from the US on October 30 (refetel) were scheduled to leave Guyana on November 4, having completed their testimony on Oct. 31. The prosecution wishes to have Dale Parks return to give a deposition sometime next week.

Roberts [George B. Roberts, U.S. Ambassador to Guyana]

BT

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