‘Uncle Raphael’s’ injunction against Johnny Welshman upheld by Chief Justice

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] –Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang has upheld the injunction filed by Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman against Johnny Welshman, Trotman’s Attorney, Nigel Hughes told reporters outside the CJ’s Chamber this afternoon.

Amid insulting statements being spoken by an angry Welshman, who was also outside the CJ’s Chamber, Hughes explained that “the injunction continues until there is a determination of the matter.”

The Speaker, who Welshman refers to as “Uncle Raphael”, secured the injunction against him, preventing the young man from publishing any information in relation to allegations that he [Trotman] sodomized him while he was child.

Trotman, who was also present at today’s hearing, has always denied the allegations. The Speaker has made a $50 million claim in the Court for damages done to his reputation as a result of statements made by Welshman.

“It is at the trial that the Plaintiff [Trotman] has to establish the injury his reputation has suffered as a result of Mr. Welshman’s statement and the places where he made those comments,” Hughes added.

The trial is likely to come up within the next two years; until such time Welshman remains barred from adding to the allegations that are already in the public domain.

Hughes said Welshman’s behavior in the Chamber today was “rather unfortunate”; saying he disregarded the instructions of his own Counsel.

Welshman stormed out the hearing which was held in Chambers, an angry man and even had to be cautioned and threatened to be arrested by police officers.

Welshman exclaimed, “same nonsense, pure politics… I was given an undertaken that I cannot say anything on my social media… Guyana has no blasted cyber laws!”

“According to the laws the Chief Justice cannot bar anyone from their social media, but let me tell Guyana that this will be big bacchanal and I have my documents to back it up and Nigel better come blasted good,” a fuming Welshman expressed.

In a response to Welshman’s claims, Hughes said “whether or not there are cyber laws, Mr Welshman published statements hostile and adverse and injured his client’s reputation.”

Welshman’s Attorney, Peter Hugh refused the media a comment.