Police witness testifies to Dennis Williams signing confessing statement
Bartica Massacre trial
By Shemuel Fanfair
As the High Court trial into the heinous 2008 Bartica Massacre continues, Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarrabo testified that he witnessed Dennis “Anaconda” Williams signing the caution statement which detailed an account of the events surrounding the ghastly crimes which were allegedly carried out by the infamous Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins while persons in the community were caught up watching a game of 20/20 cricket.
Sarrabo, who took the stand on Thursday morning, told the 12-member jury that on November 8, 2008, around 14:30h, he was on duty at Crime Investigations Department (CID) when Detective Inspector Singh, then a Corporal related some information to him which later caused the witness to go over to Singh’s desk. He recalled that Williams was escorted to Singh’s desk and offered a seat. Sarrabo further claimed that in his presence, the murder-accused was asked if he had anything to eat to which he replied: “Yes”.
After Singh told Williams that Police had information that he and others armed with dangerous weapons, being guns, murdered Ron Osborne and 11 others at Bartica on the night of February 17, 2008, Sarrabo related to the court that Williams was cautioned and read his rights, stating that he was not obliged to say anything but that anything said could be taken into evidence and that he had the right to consult a lawyer.
After these rights were relayed, Sarrabo recalled that Williams replied, “I been Bartica but me an kill nobody”. The witness informed the court that at no point was Williams threatened, nor were there any promises made, force used or inducement for the accused to comply with Police. The court heard that Williams had “no problem” with giving Police a statement.
However, according to Sarrabo, Williams looked some distance way and requested that Superintendent Reid write his caution statement. Reid was at the time sitting in his office which was North of Inspector Singh’s desk. Sarrabo told the court that in his presence, Williams was taken over to Reid’s desk where he told the Superintendent (Reid): “Big man I gan tell yuh wah happen, but let this man go outside, pointing to Inspector Singh who got up and left the office”. Sarrabo explained that upon Reid writing the statement, Williams was told that he could have a lawyer, friend or relative present. As no such request was made, Reid wrote the statement for Williams who provided his name, call name (Anaconda) and address. The statement was read over to him, the murder accused was said to have checked it as if he was reading it and said that he understood.
Sarrabo further testified that he, Williams and Reid all signed the statement. This event was said to have lasted between 14:32 hrs and 15:15 hrs. Sarrabo also testified that he witnessed the cautioning of Mark “Royden” Williams and Roger Simon upon their interrogation at CID in 2008.
According to Sarrabo, after Mark Williams disclosed: “A sadist wuk, I had to go,” he further stated: “Me an giving no more statement.” Meanwhile, Sarrabo added that Roger “Goat Man” Simon when asked by Inspector Singh to give a statement, responded: “Boss man I went in de interior wuking, I an know nothing bout this, I an know wah going on”.
Under cross-examination by William’s Attorney, Shaphier Hussain, Detective Sarrabo stumbled on whether he had first seen his client on November 7 or 8 but admitted that he could recall the exact time. The Police witness denied that he ever boxed, kicked or electrocuted Williams with a baton device, rejecting the supposition that Dennis Williams was forced to sign the statement.
Meanwhile, Attorney Hussain sought to ascertain what Inspector Singh told Sarrabo on the day his client signed the caution statement. After a swift objection by State Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar, presiding Judge, Justice Roxanne George, disallowed this line of questioning on the grounds that it was “hearsay evidence”. When Superintendent of Police Trevor Reid took the stand earlier this month, the court heard that Denis Williams was paid three ounces of gold to carry out the heinous attack. The trial continues at the High Court.