There was a voir dire (trial within a trial) as the trial of James Anthony Hyles called ‘Sally’ and Mark Royden Williams called ‘Smallie’, the duo accused of the 2008 Lusignan Massacre continued yesterday in the High Court.
The voir dire was conducted by Justice Navindra Singh in the High Court and it will continue today.
On Tuesday, a state witness, Durwin Wright, told Justice Singh and the 12-member jury that murder accused James Hyles told him that he killed the victims of the massacre.
Wright, who is currently in protective custody, was himself charged with the August 2007 murder of Kumar Singh, also known as ‘Mango Man’ and was committed to stand trial in the High Court for the offence.
He was one of the four witnesses who testified for the prosecution, which is being led by Senior State Counsel Judith Gildharie-Mursalin in association with Tishana Lake.
Relatives of the deceased also testified on Tuesday. Zulika Baksh, Gomattie Thomas and Nazir Mohamed recounted waking up to gunshots during the wee hours of the tragic morning.
Hyles is represented by attorney Nigel Hughes, while Roger Yearwood is representing Williams.
The men are accused of killing 48-year-old Clarence Thomas, his 12-year-old daughter Vanessa Thomas and his son Ron Thomas; 32-year-old Mohandai Gourdat and her two sons, four-year-old Seegobind Harrilall and ten-year-old Seegopaul Harrilall; 22-year-old Shazam Mohamed; 55-year-old Shaleem Baksh; Seecharran Rooplall, 56, his wife Dhanrajie Ramsingh, 52, and their 11-year-old daughter Raywattie Ramsingh on January 26, 2008.
