Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 16, 2014 News
…Trotman granted time to respond to affidavit
The injunction which prevents a 22-year-old man from publishing any material relating to the sexual assault allegations
he has made against Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman still stands.
Johnny Anthony Welshman, along with his Lawyer, Peter Hugh and Trotman’s attorney, Nigel Hughes met with Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang yesterday. The matter was once again adjourned, this time until November 4.
In fact, Hughes was yesterday granted leave to file an affidavit in reply to Welshman’s affidavit, both attorneys have confirmed.
Welshman is moving to discharge the injunction against him which was granted by Chief Justice (Ag), Ian Chang on September 22, last.
Trotman filed an ex parte application by way of affidavit for an interim injunction to block Welshman from publishing, whether in the print or electronic media, any material relating to allegations he made against the House Speaker.
Welshman is the 22-year-old who is accusing the Speaker of sexually molesting him over ten years ago; an allegation, which Trotman has vehemently denied, asserting that it is a political plot.
An injunction was last month granted by the acting Chief Justice ordering Welshman to remove all malicious content from his facebook page. Welshman moved to the High Court one week after, seeking to have the injunction filed against him by Trotman, discharged.
The acting Chief Justice had on the last occasion advised the 22-year-old to seek legal representation or advice as it pertains to what is expected of him with respect to complying with the rules of the Court.
Yesterday, the 22-year-old was seen limping in and out of the Court. He had reported that he was beaten and gun butted on Sunday by three men in a moving taxi which he was forced to jump from.
Before Chang, Hughes requested leave to file a response to the affidavit filed by Hugh and was given until November 4 to
do so. After these formalities are completed, arguments on the injunction will commence.
In his Ex Parte Affidavit in support of the application for the injunction, Trotman has also sought damages in excess of $50 million for libel contained in statements allegedly made by Welshman and published in the Stabroek News, Guyana Times as well as on Welshman’s facebook page.
The AFC has since expressed its unequivocal support for its Co-Founder and Speaker of the National Assembly against the “recent spurious and unfounded allegations” leveled against him.
Hugh, who issued a statement last Tuesday announcing that he would be representing Welshman, deemed the treatment of the 22-year-old by the public and the system, unfair.
He had said that despite the interim injunction, the House Speaker had continued to speak to the press and cause to be published both in print and electronically, articles which clearly seek to directly attack Welshman’s reputation, character and integrity.
Hugh had reminded that the allegations made by Welshman are the subject of a police investigation, and further stated that it was unacceptable behaviour on Trotman’s part to continue to continually attack the reporter of an alleged sexual assault, especially Welshman who is now restrained from publishing any material in relation to those allegations.
The lawyer contended that this seems to be attacks on someone who cannot respond, reply or defend himself.
He had also chided Non-Governmental Organizations and groups which, despite claims to represent and champion human rights have remained silent throughout this ordeal.
He argues that justice must never be premised or appear to be premised on who is the alleged perpetrator of an offence, regardless of their station, position, office or affiliations.
“Every citizen must be equal before the law. All alleged victims of domestic, transgender and sexual violence must be afforded equal access to justice and equal protection of the law regardless of their socio economic, racial or gender differences,” the lawyer had said.
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