In an opening address to the nine-member jury with six alternates Tuesday the state's special prosecutor, Dana Seetahal, said the recording and its corresponding transcript is the primary evidence against Bakr.
She said she also plans to have the videographer, Anand “Mano” Ragbir, called on to testify on what he saw at the Jamaat’s Mucurapo Road mosque on the date of the speech. Ragbir is the chief cameraman at the private television station CNC 3.
She said she also plans to have the videographer, Anand “Mano” Ragbir, called on to testify on what he saw at the Jamaat’s Mucurapo Road mosque on the date of the speech. Ragbir is the chief cameraman at the private television station CNC 3.
Bakr is accused of communicating a statement with seditious intent and provoking a breach of the peace. He is also facing two charges of inciting others to "demand money by menace".
Police charged Bakr on November 8, 2005, three days after he made the speech, which focused on zakat—the third pillar of Islam, which calls on followers to give two per cent of their earnings to charity.
The trial is expected to last between two and three weeks.
On Tuesday, trial judge Justice Mark Mohammed cautioned jurors about discussing the evidence in the trial on the Internet.
Mohammed also instructed jurors to not discuss or research the evidence in the case, saying they should not come to a conclusion until the end of the case. He said, “Deliberately ignoring these precautions has serious consequences.”
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