The trial of James Anthony Hyles called ‘Sally,’ and Mark Royden Williams, called ‘Smallie,’ the duo accused of the 2008 Lusignan Massacre continued yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh in the High Court with a second voir dire.
A voir dire (trial within a trial) is heard in the absence of the jury. Before the voir dire was held, Superintendent Ravindradat Bhudram testified, saying that on June 15, 2008, acting on information, he located Williams.
He said he and the other ranks proceeded to Field 7 in Cummings Lodge to the home of one Sheldon Williams.
According to Bhudram, on arrival at Williams’ home, he stopped the vehicle and entered the yard after which he identified himself. He said it was after this, he made contact with Royden Williams, known as Mark Williams called ‘Smallie.’
He said that after he identified himself as the Assistant Superintendent, he told Williams that he was wanted in connection will 11 murders on the East Coast of Demerara, including that of Ivor Williams.
Bhudram said that he then cautioned Williams and took him down to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters.
Senior State Counsel Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, who is prosecuting the case, asked Bhudram if any force was used towards Williams while he was at CID, to which he replied no. Bhudram said that after Williams was cautioned, he replied, “Bigga you get the wrong man.” Gildharie-Mursalin then asked Bhudram if he were to see Williams if he would be able to positively identify him. Bhudram then looked around the courtroom and positively identified the number one accused.
After Bhudram’s evidence-in-chief, he was cross-examined by Williams’ attorney, Roger Yearwood, who asked him if a search was carried out on the premises. Bhudram said that a search was indeed carried out on the premises.
Yearwood then suggested that nowhere in the evidence did he say that he found arms or ammunition and that the reason he did not say so, was because none was found. Yearwood asked Bhudram about the exact location he took him to in the CID, to which Bhudram replied the inquiries desk on the second flat.
The lawyer then asked him if he could recall in whose charge he left Williams but Bhudram said that he couldn’t recall.
He said the records will reveal the information. Yearwood also asked Bhudram if he indicated to anyone that the accused was held in connection with the Lusignan murders, to which he said that he couldn’t recall.
On Tuesday, four witnesses testified, including Durwin Wright who told the 12-member jury that murder accused James Hyles told him that he had participated in the killing of victims of the massacre.
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.
The voir dire will continue today.
