After nearly three months of lengthy testimonies and at times gruelling cross-examinations by the defence counsel, the State has rested its case against Mark Royden Williams, Dennis “Anaconda” Williams and Roger Simon, who are standing trial for the February 17, 2008 Bartica attack where twelve persons lost their lives.
Mark Williams, Dennis “Anaconda” Williams and Roger Simon are the three accused standing trial for the Bartica Massacre
This disclosure was made by Lead Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar, who on Tuesday announced that the State does not intend to call any other witnesses. Her comments followed the brief appearance of Police Inspector Eon Johnson, a ballistics expert, who discontinued his testimony after a series of objections and applications from the Prosecution and Dennis Williams’ Defence Counsel, Shaphier Husain.
Citing the law, Justice Roxanne George, SC ruled that while Inspector Johnson’s evidence could not be tendered, he however could testify to his expert analysis of what was found at the site.
Bartica businessman Chunilall Babulall, called “Vulture”, took the stand during the afternoon session, and testified that on February 13, 2008, he had left Bartica for Georgetown only to return on February 18 to discover the doors to the entrances and rooms of his home, and ‘CB&R’ office to his mining company on the lower flat were vandalised, while several items were missing.
He pointed out that his home and office are located in the same building at First Avenue, just seven corners from the Police Station, which was also attacked.
Babulall told the court that his bedroom was ransacked and a safe was missing, which the witness explained contained his transport, jewellery, approximately 25 ounces of gold and cash. The 12-member jury heard that the jewellery set was made out of platinum and blue diamonds. Babulall further noted that an office safe was also stolen.
Previously, two witnesses, Clebert Reece and Dwane Williams who are self-confessed gang members, had testified that safes were opened which had contained several articles. On January 6, Reece had stated that after he set the boat adrift at a camp, two safes were opened, in which one contained raw gold, diamonds, a necklace and a gemstone, while the other had $1 million inside with a set of keys and a ziploc bag with two diamonds.
Babulall also recalled that he had last seen watchman Irving Ferreira at his company on February 12, 2008. Ferreira was one of the victims slaughtered in the attack. The State presented Babulall’s cancelled passport and National Insurance Card to be identified in court amidst objection by the Defence on the grounds that the items had no relevance to the trial.
Meanwhile, the cross-examination of Police Detective, Inspector Suraj Singh concluded during the morning session. Roger Simon’s attorney, Peter Hugh grilled Singh over the Police procedures in identifying similar subjects in the identification (ID) parade, but the Police witness responded that he never interviewed Simon or any of the other persons in the line-up.
Under questioning by Dennis Williams’ attorney, Shaphier Husain, Singh noted that he was “nowhere around” when Williams was making his statement and rejected the suggestion that the accused was forced to sign the statement.
Aside from the three accused, two others, Clebert Reece and Michael Caesar, had both pled guilty to manslaughter late last year, and were sentenced to 420 and 1080 years imprisonment respectively. Additionally Reece and fellow gang member Dwane Williams identified the two others as being part of the gang that carried out massacres at Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek. The two main witnesses, however, claimed the other accused, Roger Simon was not a part of the gang that executed the attack. It was while residents were watching a game of 20/20 cricket on that fateful night that gunmen stormed the Essequibo community and slaughtered three Policemen and nine civilians. The victims 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.
