[Editor’s note: This document was released both as a State Department cable as part of its 1981 FOIA release, and as Serial 1493 of the FBI’s RYMUR release.]
UNCLASSIFIED
[Listing of agencies receiving informational copies on pdf]
0 301050Z DEC 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8613
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 4517
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CARR, GY (LAYTON, LARRY) (PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
SUBJ: W/W ARRESTS: LARRY LAYTON
REF: GEORGETOWN 4483
1. PRELIMINARY INQUIRY INTO THE DEATHS OF CONGRESSMAN RYAN AND FOUR OTHER AMERICANS WAS CONTINUED ON DEC. 29. FOUR NEW WITNESSES TESTIFIED AT THE SESSION. THOMAS REYNOLDS, A RAILROAD INSPECTOR LIVED JUST OFF THE PORT KAITUMA AIRSTRIP, TOLD WHAT HE SAW ON THE AFTERNOON OF NOV.18. CLEMENT LILADRIE, A BUSINESSMAN WHO LIVES AT PORT KAITUMA, TESTIFIED THAT HE TOOK THE ACCUSED LARRY LAYTON, INTO THE KAITUMA CONSTABULARY AFTER THE SHOOTING ON NOV. 18. KANSIN ALLY, A SUPERNUMERARY CONSTABLE STATIONED AT PORT KAITUMA, TESTIFIED THAT LAYTON ADMITTED TO HIM SHORTLY AFTER BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING. DUGA PERSAUD, THE SUPERNUMERARY CONSTABLE WHO WAS GUARDING THE GUYANA AIRWAYS CORPORATION TWIN OTTER AIRCRAFT WHEN THE SHOOTING BROKE OUT, ALSO TESTIFIED. PERSAUD NOTED THAT THE GUYANA POLICE CORPORAL NORMALLY IN CHARGE OF THE PORT KAITUMA STATION WAS ON LEAVE ON NOV. 18, AND THAT NOBODY WAS LEFT IN CHARGE. ALL FOUR WITNESSES WERE CROSS-EXAMINED BY THE DEFENSE.
2. INQUIRY IS SCHEDULED TO RESUME JAN. 2. PROSECUTION PLANS TO
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 GEORGE 301138Z
CALL TWO MORE WITNESSES, THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA PATHOLOGIST, AND A POLICEMAN.
DWYER [Richard Dwyer, Deputy Chief of Mission, American Embassy, Georgetown]