“They don’t know who is me. I don’t play” – Carol Smith-Joseph’s outburst in court disrupts trial – 2020 election fraud case

Proceedings in the 2020 elections fraud trial were disrupted twice on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, as the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) member Carol Smith-Joseph, who was charged, first became the subject of a threat allegation and later interrupted the hearing with claims of harassment inside the courtroom.

The matter is being heard before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, with former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) elections agent Anieshaw Mohamed continuing her testimony under cross-examination by Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes.

During the morning session, Mohamed halted proceedings while under cross-examination, alleging that Smith-Joseph had made a threatening remark towards her, claiming that Smith-Joseph said she was allegedly going to slap her while seated in the courtroom.

The allegation prompted an immediate response from the court and led to a brief adjournment to restore order. However, before the morning adjournment, cross-examination continued with Hughes focusing on an audio recording taken during the tabulation of Region Four votes at the Ashmins Building, as well as spreadsheets Mohamed said she prepared in March 2020.

Meanwhile, in the afternoon session, Smith-Joseph interrupted proceedings, rising to her feet to complain to Magistrate McGusty that she was being harassed by persons in the courtroom. Raising her voice, she declared, “Ma’am, I am being harassed at the back here. I am not going to take it. Trust me on that one… they don’t know who is me. I don’t play.” Her complaint followed the earlier presence of several individuals who had initially been brought in as potential witnesses but later identified themselves as observers and were allowed to remain in the courtroom.

Magistrate McGusty issued a stern warning to those present, reminding them that misconduct within the court could result in charges and instructed court officers to remove the individuals identified in the complaint.

Despite the disruptions, Hughes continued his cross-examination. The high-profile case centres on the tabulation of votes in Region Four during the 2 March 2020 General and Regional Elections, which prosecutors say was manipulated in favour of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition.

Nine persons are before the court facing a total of 19 electoral fraud charges, including former Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, PNC/R executive Volda Lawrence and PNCR member Carol Smith-Joseph, along with several former GECOM staff members. All of the accused have pleaded not guilty and remain on bail. The prosecution alleges that they played a critical role in inflating votes for APNU+AFC while reducing votes for the PPP/C, while the defence continues to challenge the credibility of witnesses and the integrity of the evidence presented. The trial is set to resume today.