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FORMER No. 2 accused in the Lusignan Massacre murder trial, Dwayne Williams, also known as ‘Small Friend’ has confessed to taking part in the Lusignan massacre on the East Coast of Demerara at the invitation of number one accused, Mark Royden Wiliams, also known as ‘Smallie’. And at the request of the prosecutor he pointed out ‘Smallie’ as the No. 1 accused in the dock.
‘Small Friend’, the former No. 2 accused, the court was told had the charge against him withdrawn and since then he has made a confession statement on his own free will, and has become a witness for the prosecution.
When the trial at which two accused Mark Royden Williams also known as ‘Smallie’ and James Anthony Hyles also known as ‘Sally’ indicted with the killing of 11 persons continued, yesterday, the prosecution called to the witness box the former No. 2 accused.
‘Small Friend’ a friend of ‘Fineman’ began his evidence by telling the jury about a confession statement which he voluntary gave to Sgt. Reid.
According to him it read: “Bigga, we went living on the Line Top at Buxton, and ‘Smallie’ come and tell me that he got a work for we goh pon tonight. This was early the night. About 6 o’clock time we link up at Middle Walk Backdam.
“Saddist, John I, Magic, Chong Boy, Porpoone, Mudup, Smallie, Sattie and I were there. John I share guns to those who had none because some ah them boys does keep them gun all the time. All the gun them was AK-47. Seven men had guns. Me and Mudup had no guns but we get cutlass.
“Magic said that we going and tek pay. He did not say where we were going. We wait until the place get late and then we walk on the Line Top and went to Lusignan. Saddist started shooting at the people house and then all them who had guns start shooting. We move from house to house and them boys ah shoot wild. Me nah had gun but me been wid them. Dem boys shoot a long while and then them stop and we run away through the canefield and gone back to Buxton. We spen the night there and the next day we heard through the newspaper that 11 people died. Me nah shoot nor chop anybody. I made this statement of my own free will. Signed Dwane Williams.”
Under cross-examination, Defence Attorneys Mr. Roger Yearwood and Mr. Nigel Hughes suggested that the alleged confession was not made by the witness but it was manufactured by the police.
The witness insisted that the statement was his and denied that it was the work of the police but he admitted, however, that there were inconsistencies in his evidence and his confession.
‘Smallie’ and accused James Anthony Hyles, called ‘Sally’ are indicted for the murder of 11 persons who were shot and killed in the massacre at Lusignan on the morning of January 26, 2008.
Those allegedly killed in the massacre on January 26, 2008 according to the prosecution are:
(1) Shazim Mohamed also known as Shazam Mohamed. He was 22 years old and had sustained three gunshot injuries.
(2) Rooplall Seecharran also known as Seecharran Rooplall, age , 52, . He had three gunshot injuries.
(3) Banrajie Ramsingh, also 52, . She had three gunshot injuries.
(4) Raywattie Ramsingh, age 11, who sustained one gunshot at the back of the head going down to her spine.
(5) Mohandai Gurudat, age 31, had five gunshot injuries .
(6) Her sons Seegopaul Harrilall, age 10, with two gunshot injuries and
(7) Seegobin Harrilall, age 4, with four gunshot injuries.
(8) Shalem Baksh, age 52, had two gunshot injuries.
(9) Clarence Thomas, age 48, sustained seven gunshot injuries.
(10) His two children Vanessa Thomas, age 12, had seven gunshot injuries and
(11) Ron Thomas, age 11, had four gunshot injuries .
SHOTGUN
During the evidence of Williams (‘Small Friend’), yesterday, he testified that one of the gunmen had a shotgun.
Defence Counsel Hughes suggested to the witness that the presence of a shotgun was being introduced in order to fill a hole in the case to provide for the presence of shotgun pellets which were found during the post-mortem examination.
After the witness denied this, counsel drew the witness’ attention to his confession, wherein he said that only AK-47 guns were in use that day.
In order for the jury to understand, counsel invited two armed guards outside of the court with an AK-47 and shotgun to display their weapons.
The prosecution is led by Senior State Counsel Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, in association with Mrs. Tishana Lake.
Mr. Nigel Hughes and Mr. Roger Yearwood are defending.
The trial is continuing.
‘Small Friend’, the former No. 2 accused, the court was told had the charge against him withdrawn and since then he has made a confession statement on his own free will, and has become a witness for the prosecution.
When the trial at which two accused Mark Royden Williams also known as ‘Smallie’ and James Anthony Hyles also known as ‘Sally’ indicted with the killing of 11 persons continued, yesterday, the prosecution called to the witness box the former No. 2 accused.
‘Small Friend’ a friend of ‘Fineman’ began his evidence by telling the jury about a confession statement which he voluntary gave to Sgt. Reid.
According to him it read: “Bigga, we went living on the Line Top at Buxton, and ‘Smallie’ come and tell me that he got a work for we goh pon tonight. This was early the night. About 6 o’clock time we link up at Middle Walk Backdam.
“Saddist, John I, Magic, Chong Boy, Porpoone, Mudup, Smallie, Sattie and I were there. John I share guns to those who had none because some ah them boys does keep them gun all the time. All the gun them was AK-47. Seven men had guns. Me and Mudup had no guns but we get cutlass.
“Magic said that we going and tek pay. He did not say where we were going. We wait until the place get late and then we walk on the Line Top and went to Lusignan. Saddist started shooting at the people house and then all them who had guns start shooting. We move from house to house and them boys ah shoot wild. Me nah had gun but me been wid them. Dem boys shoot a long while and then them stop and we run away through the canefield and gone back to Buxton. We spen the night there and the next day we heard through the newspaper that 11 people died. Me nah shoot nor chop anybody. I made this statement of my own free will. Signed Dwane Williams.”
Under cross-examination, Defence Attorneys Mr. Roger Yearwood and Mr. Nigel Hughes suggested that the alleged confession was not made by the witness but it was manufactured by the police.
The witness insisted that the statement was his and denied that it was the work of the police but he admitted, however, that there were inconsistencies in his evidence and his confession.
‘Smallie’ and accused James Anthony Hyles, called ‘Sally’ are indicted for the murder of 11 persons who were shot and killed in the massacre at Lusignan on the morning of January 26, 2008.
Those allegedly killed in the massacre on January 26, 2008 according to the prosecution are:
(1) Shazim Mohamed also known as Shazam Mohamed. He was 22 years old and had sustained three gunshot injuries.
(2) Rooplall Seecharran also known as Seecharran Rooplall, age , 52, . He had three gunshot injuries.
(3) Banrajie Ramsingh, also 52, . She had three gunshot injuries.
(4) Raywattie Ramsingh, age 11, who sustained one gunshot at the back of the head going down to her spine.
(5) Mohandai Gurudat, age 31, had five gunshot injuries .
(6) Her sons Seegopaul Harrilall, age 10, with two gunshot injuries and
(7) Seegobin Harrilall, age 4, with four gunshot injuries.
(8) Shalem Baksh, age 52, had two gunshot injuries.
(9) Clarence Thomas, age 48, sustained seven gunshot injuries.
(10) His two children Vanessa Thomas, age 12, had seven gunshot injuries and
(11) Ron Thomas, age 11, had four gunshot injuries .
SHOTGUN
During the evidence of Williams (‘Small Friend’), yesterday, he testified that one of the gunmen had a shotgun.
Defence Counsel Hughes suggested to the witness that the presence of a shotgun was being introduced in order to fill a hole in the case to provide for the presence of shotgun pellets which were found during the post-mortem examination.
After the witness denied this, counsel drew the witness’ attention to his confession, wherein he said that only AK-47 guns were in use that day.
In order for the jury to understand, counsel invited two armed guards outside of the court with an AK-47 and shotgun to display their weapons.
The prosecution is led by Senior State Counsel Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, in association with Mrs. Tishana Lake.
Mr. Nigel Hughes and Mr. Roger Yearwood are defending.
The trial is continuing.
