Gang member Mark Royden Williams, called “Durant” or “Smallie”, who was implicated in the February 17, 2008 massacre at Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), received an additional death sentence on Friday.
Earlier this month, “Smallie” and Dennis “Anaconda” Williams were both sentenced to death by hanging after the jury found them guilty of murder and manslaughter. The jury also acquitted Roger “Goat Man” Simon, who was
Mark Royden Williams Mark Royden Williams, called “Durant” or “Smallie” being escorted by Police after being senteced earlier this month
released on $900,000 bail, pending other massacre-related charges.
The additional sentence Mark Williams received comes as a result of the court clearing up a discrepancy on the amount of murder counts for which he was found guilty.
It now reads that Williams is guilty on eight counts of murder and four counts of manslaughter. The court had previously noted seven murder counts, but a review of recordings on the night of sentencing confirmed that the jury found the gang member guilty on eight counts.
Presiding Judge, Justice Roxanne George, SC, noted that the accused will be executed by way of hanging. When asked if he had anything to say, Williams remained silent, nodding his head from left to right. His Defence Attorney, Roger Yearwood, declined to say anything when asked by the Judge.
On the four manslaughter counts, Justice George imposed four life imprisonment sentences.
She decried the level of callousness involved when the attack was executed, noting the shots fired at the Police Station and the disturbance the residents of the community suffered as they carried out their normal lives. When the life imprisonment sentences were handed down, the judge noted that Williams went through a full trial.
Justice George further expressed that she was cognisant of the sentences that fellow gang members Michael Caesar and Clebert Reece received. The two men pled guilty to manslaughter late last year and were sentenced to 420 and 1080 years imprisonment respectively.
Meanwhile, Prison Director Gladwin Samuels was recently quoted as saying the Prison Service is ready to execute anyone, as long as the President gives the order. However, a moratorium on the death penalty is in place and the last death row inmate was executed in 1997.
On February 17, 2008, 12 persons, including three Policemen, were killed as gunmen carried out a brazen attack, while members of the community were watching a game of 20/20 cricket on television. On that fateful night, Police Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne were fatally shot, while Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas and Baldeo Singh were the civilians killed.
The prosecution’s case was led by Diana Kaulesar and assisted by Stacy Goodings. Over 30 witnesses testified in the case that lasted over three months.
