GDF loses bid to get Lindo Creek ‘main witness’ to testify

CHAIRMAN of the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry, Justice (Ret’d) Donald Trotman, rejected an application by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) legal team for Dwayne Williams to appear before the Commission.

Williams, who was 15 years old when he was arrested at Ituni in Region 10, is alleged to have witnessed the Lusignan and Bartica massacres. Additionally, he had said that he was present at the Christmas Falls shootout with police.

Retired Colonel of the GDF, Fitzroy Warde, on Monday, told the commission that when Williams was arrested at Ituni on June 16, 2008, he, in a caution statement, said he was present at Lindo Creek when the miners were murdered by the Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins gang.

However, reports supplied to the commission by the Guyana Police Force showed no such record. It was after the June 21, 2008 discovery (of what took place at Lindo Creek) by Leonard Arokium that the police records showed Williams, in another caution statement, had told the Police on July 3, 2008 that he was there when the mass murders occurred. Williams is said to have given conflicting or different statements at different times.

GDF Attorneys Roysdale Forde and Leslie Sobers made repeated applications for Williams, who remains in police protection, to appear before the commission, even if by Skype, stating that his appearance was critical to the case.

However, when the matter was again raised on Tuesday, the Commission’s Legal Counsel Patrice Henry for the first time informed the GDF legal team that Williams was interviewed by the Commission. This did not sit well with the GDF legal team who expressed disappointment.

Nonetheless, in handing down his ruling, Justice Trotman said it would be “unnecessary and “inadvisable” to have Williams to appear before the Commission. He noted that the statement given by Williams, who should now be in his mid-20s, did not incriminate the GDF. The commissioner noted that all statements made by Williams, and which are in the possession of the Commission will be made available to the team representing GDF.

Tuesday marked the end of public hearings for the Commission. However, Legal Counsel Henry informed the Commission that interviews are expected to be conducted with former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and former Chief of Staff of GDF, Mark Phillips.

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