THE Bartica Massacre trial continued in the High Court on Wednesday before Justice Roxanne George and a 12-member jury in which three police witnesses were recalled to testify, as well as two other witnesses.On trial are Mark Royden Williams called “Smallie”, Dennis Williams called “Anaconda” and Roger Simon called “Goat Man” who are each indicted for 12 counts for the murder 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’ lawyer is Saphier Hussain and Roger Simon’s attorney is Peter Hugh.

During the February 17, 2008 rampage, nine civilians and three cops were gunned down by a group of heavily armed men, who descended on Bartica at nightfall.

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; Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam; Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu; Ashraf Khan of Middlesex, Essequibo; Abdool Yasseen and Errol Thomas of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; and Baldeo Singh of Montrose, East Coast Demerara.

Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins, according to the police, led the gang on the rampage in Bartica, as well as the one that converged on Lusignan on January 26, 2008.

Rawlins was killed during a Joint Services Operation on August 28, 2008. With his death and the arrest and prosecution of the five suspects, it appeared as though the police had closed their investigation.

Police witnesses Linden Lord, Rodwell Sarrabo and Trevor Reid were recalled to be cross-examined by Defence Counsel Peter Hugh, who had been out for a while.

In cross-examination, Peter Hugh asked Rodwell Sarrabo how long his interaction with Roger Simon called “Goat Man” lasted and he replied about 10 minutes and during that time the allegation was put to him that he along with others murdered 12 persons in Bartica on February 17, 2008.

Sarrabo added that after the allegation was put to Simon, he said “I was in de bush working and meh ain’t know wah going on.”

When questioned, Sarrabo said that he could not recall what Simon was wearing that day and when asked if he was wearing shoes, he stated that obviously he was since it was not strange for the GPF to provide shoes for persons detained for questioning.

Hugh asked Sarrabo whether he was able to establish the claim made by Simon of his whereabouts as it regards to the incident.

Trevor Reid told the court that he first saw Mark Royden Williams called “Smallie” at the CID headquarters but could not recall the date when he was asked by Defence Counsel Roger Yearwood.

Reid told the court that he would have to refresh from his statements and it was put to him that Duane Williams is not facing any charges in the Bartica incident and he replied in the negative.

He told the court that Duane Williams was charged for Lusignan murders and were not sure if the charges were withdrawn and he does refer to him (Reid) as “Big Man” and Reid does call Duane Williams “Small Friend”.

Defence Counsel Peter Hugh under cross-examination to Reid asked whether he was in-charge of the investigation as it relates to Bartica Massacre and he said he was but for the Georgetown area alone.

Yearwood on the other hand grilled Reid if he knew Simon was in the interior working at the time of the incident and he answered in the affirmative.

He was further questioned as to why he did not verify the bit of information and he told the court that the information was channeled since it is a norm for the police to share information in the divisions.

Meanwhile, an application was made by State Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar for the depositions of two witnesses, who testified in the Magistrate’s Court to be read into evidence in the trial since both are deceased.

They are Inspectors Leroy Alexander and Gerald Ulicar.

The state called Shanae Castello, a relative of Alexander, who testified that he died on March 12, 2011 and the death certificate which she produced was tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.

Leandro Alexander was also called to testify on Wednesday and he told the court that his father died on October 26, 2014 after which an application was made by Kaulesar for the witness to produce the death certificate which was tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.