GOVERNMENT pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh said Monday, there was no way any of the 12 victims of the Bartica Massacre could have lived, given the extent of their injuries.Giving a detailed testimony of the cause of death of the nine civilians and three cops who were slain en masse on the night of February 17, 2008, Dr. Singh told the court, for instance, that Bartica resident, Edwin Gilkes, whose lungs were shot to smithereens, had just about half-an-hour to live, if so much; while Ashraf Ally Khan of Middlesex, Essequibo, who took several bullets to the head, died instantaneously.
Dr. Singh went on to say that Khan’s body bore at least three entry wounds to the head, back and middle. One bullet, he said, exited via the right nostril, while two flattened ones were recovered from the skull.

And from all indications, Abdool Yasseen of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, was also shot in the head, and at close range, as his brain had multiple cuts, causing splits and bursts in the blood vessels.

In the case of Errol Thomas, who, like Yasseen, hailed from Tuschen, Dr. Singh said “the cause of death was multiple gunshots to the head.”

Constable Shane Fredericks also died of multiple gunshot injuries, at least 10 of which were accounted for during the autopsy. And, from all indications, those shots “came from all angles.”

As for Constable Ron Osborne, his cause of death was ruled as intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to multiple gunshot wounds. Dr. Singh said he took four shots: One through the abdomen, severing the aorta before passing through the kidney to the liver and exiting the body. All four bullets, the doctor said, exited the body.

In the case of Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, he too died of multiple gunshot injuries, but the one shot that killed him was the one to his head.

Irving Ferreira, of Bartica, was shot thrice in the head, while his countryman, Dexter Adrian, took seven bullets.

Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam, was shot twice, at close range, in the back of the head, with one bullet ending up being lodged in his wrist, while Baldeo Singh, of Montrose, East Coast Demerara, died of gunshot injuries to the head as well.

Lastly was Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu, who, according to the pathologist, died as a result of gunshot injury to the head.

Several witnesses also testified, one of whom was recalled for cross examination on Monday.

On trial are Mark Royden Williams called “Smallie”, Dennis Williams called “Anaconda” and Roger Simon called “Goat Man” are each indicted for for the murders of nine civilians and three policemen at Bartica on February 17, 2008.

However, two of the five accused, Michael Caesar and Clebert Reece, have since plead guilty to manslaughter separately and have been sentenced.

Mark Royden Williams, is being represented by Roger Yearwood, Dennis Williams by Saphier Hussain, and Roger Simon by Peter Hugh.
The state is being represented by Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Goodings.