The Preliminary Inquiries into the charges against four men, accused of involvement in the February, 2008 Bartica massacre, has been shifted to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday read the decision by the Director of Public Prosecu-tions (DPP) to move the inquiries from the Bartica Magistrates’ Court. The decision was read to Roger Simon, Clebert Reece, called ‘Chi-Chi,’ Dennis Williams, also known as ‘Anaconda,’ and Michael Caesar, called ‘Capone,’ who stood shackled in the dock of the courtroom. After reading the order, the magistrate transferred the cases to Court Three for April 20, where the PIs are schedule to continue before Magistrate Fazil Azeez.

The respective inquiries have already commenced.

Bartica resident Simon, a miner and father of nine, was the first person charged with the 12 murders. Afterward, miner Reece, of Albouys-town, Williams, of 135 Waterloo Street and Caesar, of Charlestown, were subsequently charged with the murders.

It was reported that on February 17, 2008, gunmen attacked the police station first, killing three policemen and freeing prisoners.

They then took the vehicle assigned to the police station and went on a rampage, terrorising the community and murdering nine others.

Those killed in the massacre were nine civilians, Edwin Gilkes, Irving Ferreira, Ronald Gomes, Baldeo Singh, Dexter Adrian, Deonarine Singh, Abdool Yassin, Ashraf Khan, and Errol Thomas; and three police officers, Ron Osborne, Zaheer Zakir and Shane Fredericks.