“Smallie”, “Catty” finally stand trial for 2007 ECD businessman’s murder

After nearly 11 years of being behind bars, death row inmate Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie”, along with Sherwin Nero, also known as “Catty”, appeared again at the High Court on Thursday when a jury was finally empanelled to hear the murder case of businessman Kumar Singh, called “Mango Man”.
Reports were that on the fateful night of August 30, 2007, four gunmen invaded Singh’s Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home during which the businessman was shot dead. It was in July 2008 that the two suspects were initially charged for the capital offence, and heavy security was once again at court during this week’s preliminary hearings where legal submissions were made prior to the jury’s empanelment.

The duo denied being guilty of the businessman’s unlawful killing before presiding Judge, Justice James Bovell-Drakes. State Attorneys Tamica Clarke and Tiffini Lyken are prosecuting the case while defence counsels Nigel Hughes and Ashley Henry are representing Williams and Nero. Williams had escaped prison in July 2017 after being sentenced to death in February of that year for the 2008 Bartica Massacre.
The first of several witnesses testified on Thursday in what is expected to be a lengthy trial. The matter is set to continue at the High Court next Monday.