[Editor’s note: This document was released both as a State Department cable as part of its 1981 FOIA release, and as Serial 1950 of the FBI’s RYMUR release.]
UNCLASSIFIED FBB 476
[Listing of agencies receiving informational copies on pdf]
0 011600Z MAR 79
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9088
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 0909
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CARR, (LAYTON, LARRY) (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE), GY
SUBJ: W/W ARRESTS: LARRY LAYTON
REF: GEORGETOWN 0756
1. At start of February 28 session of High Court trial of Layton, senior defense counsel Rex McKay made three submissions. The first argued that Chief Justice [Harold] Bollers should disqualify himself from the file on the grounds of possible prejudice toward the accused. The second submission moved that the trial should be postponed until the April session of the High Court to allow more time for the defense to prepare its case. McKay argued in the third submission that Magistrate [Krishna Veni] Chinta did not have authority to preside over the preliminary inquiry concluded last December into the murders of Congressman Ryan and four other Americans, and that therefore Layton’s committal to trial in the High Court was in error.
2. Bollers denied the first submission and stated that there was absolutely no reason why he should disqualify himself, even if the allegations made by the defense in this matter were true. Bollers also denied the second application on the grounds that the defense had sufficient time to prepare a defense.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 GEORGE 0909 011637Z
Bollers adjourned court until March 1 to allow time for him and the prosecutor to study in detail McKay’s third submission.
3. Due to procedural points raised at the beginning of today’s session jury was not selected.
Burke [John Burke, American ambassador to Guyana]