FIVE witnesses in what has been termed the Bartica Massacre court trial testified on Monday that they had identified the bodies of their loved ones who had been killed in the events that unfolded on that fateful day of February 17, 2008; and they had witnessed the post-mortems conducted by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh.The witnesses each told Justice Roxane George and a 12-member jury that they had each been summoned at the mortuary of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to identify respective bodies, after which post-mortems were done.

Led by State Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar, the first witness, Hariff Ali Khan, told the court that he had identified the body of his brother, Ashraf Ali Khan, called “Bolo”, on February 19, 2008. He said that before his death, Bolo used to work on a boat transporting Banks DIH products to Bartica, Region Seven.

Khan related that after the post-mortem was done, the body was handed over to relatives for burial, which took place on February 29, 2008 on the Essequibo Coast.

The witness also stated that he recognised the body of Abdool Yasseen, who used to work for his brother.

Pancham Singh, the second witness, told the court that he identified the body of his uncle, Baldeo Singh, called “Guptie,” at the GPHC mortuary on February 20, 2008.

He added that prior to his death, Guptie used to work on a boat transporting beverages from Georgetown to Bartica.

Singh said that after the post-mortem was done, his uncle’s body was released for burial, which took place a few days later.

The third witness, Norma Fredericks, told the court that she identified the body of her son, Shane Fredericks, who had been a policemen attached to the Bartica Police Station on February 19, 2008.

She said Shane’s body was interred on February 22, 2008 at the Le Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown, following a funeral service.

On her part, fourth witness Amrita Thomas said she identified the body of her cousin, Ron Osborne, who had been a cop attached to the Bartica Police Station on February 19, 2008.

She added that after the post-mortem was conducted, the body was handed over for burial, and this was done at Kamarang on February 24, 2008.

Toolsie Persaud, testifying, told the court that he identified the body of his brother Deonarine Singh, called “Papso”, on February 20, 2008; and soon after, a post-mortem was done at the GPHC mortuary.

Prior to Singh’s death, Persaud said, he worked as a boat captain employed with Boodhoo’s General Store. He used to transport goods from the City to Bartica.

Persaud related that Singh’se body was buried at Wakenaam shortly after the post-mortem had been done.

The matter will continue on Tuesday at 09:00 hrs.

Three other witnesses last week similarly testified of identifying the bodies of their loved ones, and witnessing the post-mortems after which burials had taken place.

RECAP
On February 17, 2008, gunmen, descending on Bartica at nightfall, went on a rampage, carting off guns belonging to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) after killing three cops, and taking control of the police vehicle to continue their onslaught in Bartica.

Nine civilians were killed in that rampage, including five men who were executed at the Bartica Stelling.

Those who lost their lives were Bartica residents: Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian and Irving Ferreira; policemen stationed at the Bartica Police Station: Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne; visiting civilians: 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.

According to the police, Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins had led a gang on that rampage in Bartica, as well as the rampage that occurred at Lusignan, ECD on January 26, 2008.

Rawlins was killed during a joint services’ operation on August 28, 2008, and some of those who reportedly participated in the massacre were arrested following an investigation conducted by the police. Three of them were seated in the courtroom.

On trial are Mark Royden, called “Durant”; Dennis Williams, called “Anaconda”; and Roger Simon, called “Goat Man”. They each stand indicted on 12 counts of murder for the deaths of nine civilians and three policemen, which occurred at Bartica on February 17, 2008.

Besides the counts of murder, each accused faces one count of terrorism, one count of unlawful wounding, and three counts of break and enter and larceny. However, two of the five accused — Michael Caesar and Clebert Reece — have since separately pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and will return to the High Court on December 16, 2016 for probation report.

This will be followed by sentencing by Justice Roxane George.

Royden is being represented by attorney-at-law Roger Yearwood; Williams’s lawyer is Saphier Hussain, and Simon’s attorney is Peter Hugh.