More than five years after the Bartica massacre that claimed the lives of 12 men and sent shockwaves through the country, five men are set to go on trial shortly in the High Court sitting at Suddie.
Mark Royden Williams called ‘Durant Williams’, Dennis Williams called ‘Anaconda’, Clebert Reece called ‘Chi-chi’, Michael Caesar and Roger Simon were charged and later committed to stand trial for the brutal murders of nine civilians and three policemen carried out on February 17, 2008. A notice in today’s edition of the Guyana Chronicle by the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions said that the trial of the quintet will come up at the current session of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Essequibo.
The five are facing 12 counts of murder, one count of terrorism, one count of unlawful wounding and three counts of break and enter and larceny.
Those who lost their lives were Bartica residents Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian and Irving Ferreira; policemen stationed at the Bartica Police Station, Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne;
Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam; Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu; Ashraf Khan of Middlesex, Essequibo; Abdool Yasseen; Errol Thomas of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Baldeo Singh of Montrose, East Coast Demerara.
Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins, according to the police, led the gang on the rampage in Bartica as well as the one that converged on Lusignan on January 26. Rawlins was killed during a joint services operation on August 28, 2008. With his death and the arrest and prosecution of the five suspects, it appeared as though the police had closed their investigation.
However, when contacted recently, Crime Chief Persaud painted a different picture; one of a very active investigation. “Information tells us that there is one other person”, he said, adding that a search is currently on for the person. He said that based on what they were told the person was present at the time of the shooting. He said the police know who they are looking for.
