A jury has been empanelled for the High Court trial of the five men accused of the massacre of 12 people at Bartica in 2008.
Mark Royden Williams, called ‘Durant Williams,’ Dennis Williams, called ‘Anaconda,’ Clebert Reece, called ‘Chi Chi,’ Michael Caesar and Roger Simon were committed to stand trial back in 2011 for the brutal murders of nine civilians and three policemen, which was carried out on February 17, 2008 in Bartica.
Additionally, the quintet was also charged with one count of terrorism, one count of unlawful wounding and three counts of break and enter and larceny.
However, due to three of the five men being unable to independently secure legal counsel, the presentation of the formal indictment against them has been postponed until October 12, as steps are being taken to provide them with state assigned attorneys.
Once this is done, the trial, which is being presided over by Justice Roxane George, will get underway. Prosecutors Narissa Leander and Tuanna Hardy are leading the state’s case.
The charges stem from an hour-long attack at Bartica on the night of February 17, which was carried out by some 20 gunmen.
The gunmen had attacked the police station first, killing the 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 the nine others. According to reports, the gunmen arrived in the area by boat and departed in similar fashion, taking with them firearms they had grabbed from the police station and from a mining company.
Those who lost their lives were Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne, who were stationed at the Bartica Police Station; Bartica residents Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian and Irving Ferreira; 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.
The attack on the Bartica community came amidst heightened security across the country following the slaughter of 11 people at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara three weeks earlier.
