− tells court about “multiple gunshot injuries to the head”
Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh took the stand at Monday’s ongoing High Court trial into the 2008 massacre at Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). While residents were watching a game of 20/20 cricket on February 17 of that year, gunmen stormed the Essequibo community and slaughtered twelve
Mark Williams, Dennis “Anaconda” Williams and Roger Simon are the three accused standing trial for the Bartica massacre
persons during the attack. These included Police Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne; and civilians Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas and Baldeo Singh.
Dr Singh testified to carrying out the post-mortem examinations (PMEs) of the victims and he also read out excerpts from the PME reports to the Court. The 12-member jury heard that the many victims died as result of multiple gunshot injuries to the head. Dr Singh explained that wounds are external, while injuries are internal and also related that most of the victims would have died almost immediately after the gunshots were inflicted.
The court was told that Edwin Gilkes suffered one gunshot wound, of which the bullet existed; while Errol Thomas suffered multiple gunshots to the head. Singh noted that two bullets were recovered from the skull of Ashraf Ally Khan, while Abdool Yasseen was shot at “close range”. The pathologist also explained that Yasseen would have died “instantly”, not only from bleeding, but from the energy that emanated from the bullets which the doctor stressed would “stop the brain from functioning”.
As the pathologist continued, the jury heard that Police Constable Fredericks would have died “quickly”, after he suffered 10 gunshot injuries and four bullets existed. Meanwhile, Dr Singh stated that Constable Osborne’s cause of death was listed as “intra-abdominal injuries” which came as a result of four gunshot injuries – three in the abdomen and one to the forearm. Lance Corporal Zakir suffered two gunshot injuries to the legs, which existed and injuries to the head which caused his demise. Baldeo Singh suffered gunshots to the head and taxi driver Dexter Adrian encountered seven gunshot injuries.
Another victim, Ferreira met with three gunshot wounds to the head, while Deonarine Singh suffered five gunshot wounds in total. Dr Singh further testified that Ronald Gomes was shot to head at close range.
Taking the stand at the afternoon session of the trial was Police Detective, Inspector Suraj Singh, who is currently stationed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Singh, who was a Corporal attached to the CID at the time of the 2008 attack, testified that he was present at identification (ID) parades where witnesses signalled out Roger Simon, Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams as being part of the Bartica attack.
The Detective Inspector told the court that on April 8, 2008 after Simon, called “Goat Man”, was identified, he told him of the allegations in the presence of Sergeant Sarrabo. After the accused was cautioned, he replied, “Boss man, I was in the interior working; I don’t know anything about this. Me an know wah going on.”
Singh further noted that when Mark Williams was picked out in the ID line-up, he had first said to Inspector Lord, “I never went to Bartica,” but then reportedly changed his story when Singh later put forward the charges to the accused.
“Is Sadist wuk, I had to go,” expressed Williams, according to Singh.
“Sadist” was another name that alleged gang leader Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins used. The Police witness further explained that the accused declined to give any other statements.
Singh then recalled that on November 8, 2008, Dennis Williams had admitted that he was in Bartica after the charges were put to him.
“Me been Bartica but me nah kill nobody,” Dennis Williams was claimed to have stated. Singh then corroborated Superintendent Reid’s account of Williams electing him to author his statement.
“Big man I gan tell you wah happen, but let this man go outside,” Singh recounted, adding that the murder accused pointed that he should leave the room which left Williams with Policemen Reid and Sarrabo.
Mark Williams, Dennis “Anaconda” Williams and Roger Simon are the three accused standing trial for the February 17, 2008 attack where 12 persons lost their lives. Two others, Clebert Reece and Michael Caesar both pled guilty to manslaughter and were sentenced to 420 and 1080 years imprisonment, respectively.
Cross-examination of Police witness Singh continues today at the Demerara High Court before Justice Roxanne George, SC. State Prosecutors are Diana Kaulesar and Stacey Goodings, while defence counsel for the three accused are Roger Yearwood, Shaphier Husain and Peter Hugh.
