“Doggie” seeks dismissal of last remaining charge

Bradley “Doggie” Sampson’s attorney this week asked Magistrate Faith McGusty to dismiss the sole remaining criminal charge against his client, but instead the magistrate transferred the matter to Court Six, scheduling a new hearing for January 19. On Friday, Attorney Jevon Cox told the court that full disclosure had been provided in regard to the disorderly behaviour charge, which now stands as the only allegation left against Sampson after five other criminal charges were withdrawn recently due to insufficient evidence.

Cox argued that the disorderly behaviour count should be dismissed, but Magistrate McGusty declined to accede to the request, instead moving the case for further hearing in January.

The development follows a dramatic turn in the case that originated from a July incident at the Square of the Revolution, also known as Cuffy Square. Sampson, 36, was originally charged with six offences in connection with a heated dispute that reportedly erupted over payments owed to individuals mobilised for a political march hosted by We Invest in Nationhood (WIN). At that time, police laid multiple allegations against him, including possession of a firearm without a licence, unlawful carrying of a firearm in a public place, unlawful wounding, threatening behaviour, disorderly behaviour and the use of obscene language. Sampson subsequently turned himself in after a wanted bulletin was issued and was granted bail on all counts, with the firearm-related charges attracting the highest bail amounts. However, when the matter was called before Magistrate McGusty in the previous case, the prosecution informed the court that all of the charges except disorderly behaviour were being discontinued. The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advised that there was insufficient evidence to proceed, particularly in regard to the firearm-related allegations. Cox has repeatedly maintained that the case against Sampson was unsupported by concrete evidence.

He told the court that no firearm was ever recovered during the incident or subsequent police operations and that no ballistic testing was carried out to classify any object as a weapon under Guyanese law. The defence also challenged the unlawful wounding allegation, noting that the alleged victim, identified in earlier reports as Genista Fordyce, failed to appear in court and that no medical certificate was tendered to confirm injury.

The viral video of the July confrontation, which circulated widely on social media, shows a heated exchange between Sampson and Fordyce, but Cox argued that footage alone was insufficient to establish possession of a weapon or support other charges. With five counts now discontinued and the disorderly behaviour charge standing alone, Friday’s hearing gave the defence an opportunity to argue for complete dismissal. Though that application was not granted, the transfer to Court Six sets the stage for the case’s next chapter on January 19.