Superintendent of Police, Trevor Reid yesterday recounted murder accused Dennis Williams’ account to him about witnessing the killing of some of the 12 persons who were massacred at Bartica in 2008.
Reid was at the time testifying at the trial of Williams, called ‘Anaconda,’ Mark Royden Williams and Roger Simon, who are on trial for the murders in the High Court.
The charge against the three men, who have pleaded not guilty, is that on February 17, 2008, they murdered Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne, Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas, and Baldeo Singh.
Reid, who in 2008 was in charge of the Major Crimes Unit as a Sergeant of Police, recalled conducting an interview with Dennis Williams, during which he told the accused that he was in receipt of information that he (Williams), in the company of others, had committed the murders.
The Superintendent said Williams, in response, told him, “Big man, ah gon tell yuh wah happen, but leh dis man guh outside.” Reid said that Corporal Singh, to whom Williams was referring, then left his office.
Reid said that he then explained to the accused that he intended to write what he had to say and that he could have his lawyer, a relative or friend present.
He said he also told Williams that he could write his statement himself, have any of the persons mentioned write it, or that he could elect him (Reid), to write it.
The witness said the accused elected him to write what he had to say, which he did on a caution statement form.
According to the caution statement, which was admitted into evidence and read to the court by Reid, Williams said that he witnessed some of the 12 men being killed, but that he did not kill anyone.
The court heard from the statement that Williams had related to Reid that he (Williams) and “Chi Chi,” boarded a boat aback the Kingston wharf, “and we reach them man,” on an island, the name of which he did not know.
Clebert Reece, called ‘Chi Chi,’ was one of the men also indicted for the murders. He, however, pleaded guilty to lesser counts of manslaughter and was sentenced last month to 35 years in jail.
The court heard further from the statement that Williams said some five or six men entered the boat with “nuff big guns.” According to the statement the accused did not previously know the men.
The court was told that ‘Chi Chi’ was the captain of the boat. It heard that they left the Saturday night, but soon experienced engine problems, which ‘Chi Chi’ fixed, and so they arrived in Bartica the following day.
According to the statement, while the other men exited with guns, Williams “and couple youth man stay in the boat” and shortly after heard shooting.
The court was told that the accused heard the shooting for about 20 minutes, after which the men returned to the boat with two canisters.
The court further heard that Williams told Reid that the youth men who were with him “stick up some man pon the stelling, and before them man go in the boat, them shoot them man.”
According to the caution statement, Williams said that he witnessed the shooting death of those men, but could not say who did the shooting, as he did not know the names of the shooters.
The court further heard that Williams said ‘Chi Chi’ then drove the boat up-river, where they abandoned it, before going into the bushes with the canisters and guns.
According to Williams’ statement, he had no gun. He also reportedly told Reid that they then got into a 4Runner vehicle, which took them to another area, where they again went to a spot in the bushes, this time, setting up a camp, where they spent the night.
Williams, the statement details, said that he and ‘Chi Chi’ left the camp the next morning, and travelled to George-town. He said he then went back to the camp two days later and he also met ‘Chi Chi’ and the other men.
According to the statement, Williams said ‘Chi Chi’ gave him about three ounces of raw gold, and he travelled back to Georgetown that same day.
The court heard from the statement that Williams said he sold the gold for $200,000 the next day to a man at the Stabroek Market whom he did not know previously. With the money, the court further heard that Williams said he bought some clothes, and spent the rest on food and other things.
According to the statement, Williams told Reid that everything he told him was all he knew about. He added that he did not know who had planned the crime, nor did he know about the plan, except that, “me bin ah guh wid ‘Chi Chi’ fuh collect something in the bush.”
The statement further went on to note that Williams said, “Fine Man (now deceased gang leader Rondell “Fine Man” Rawlins) and them man is nah me idren, dem a ‘Chi Chi’ people.”
The caution statement detailed finally that Williams told Reid, “This is the truth big man. Me nah kill no body. Me nah had no gun, them man gi’ me the gold, because me see wah happen.”
“This is the truth big man, me vex about the whole itation,” Williams is further quoted in the statement as saying.
After taking the statement, Reid said he gave it to Williams, who looked at it as if he was reading, then signed it as being true, correct and having been made of his freewill.
Reid said he also signed as having written the statement dictated to him by Williams, and so did Corporal Sarrabo, who signed as a witness to the taking of the statement.
The witness pointed out that at no time before, during or after the taking of the statement did he or anyone in his presence use any force, held out any promises, or inducements for Williams to make the statement.
Under cross-examination, Reid disagreed with a suggestion from Dennis Williams’ attorney, Saphier Husain, that his client never asked him to write any statement.
He also disagreed with counsel’s suggestion that Williams was repeatedly shocked and beaten to give the statement.
The trial, which is being heard by Justice Roxane George and a 12-member jury, continues on Friday.
The state is represented by Diana Kaulesar, in association with Stacy Goodings. Attorneys Peter Hugh, and Roger Yearwood are representing Simon, and Mark Williams, respectively.
