…say justice should not be clouded

AS the more than two–month long Bartica Massacre trial winds down, on Monday Defence attorneys made their closing addresses before Justice Roxane George SC and a 12-member jury.Attorney, Roger Yearwood, representing one of the accused, Mark Williams, in his submissions highlighted what he described as loopholes in the prosecution’s case, stating that Williams was never placed at the scene in Bartica. He told the jury that the trial has indeed been a long one and has engaged the attention of the country, a country which is crying out for justice for the 12 persons massacred, in such a dastardly act but justice should not be clouded.

Yearwood added that the state wants the court to believe that Williams played a part in the incident and relied on two witnesses, whose stories didn’t quite add up and was riddled with inconsistencies. He spoke of the inconsistencies of both witnesses, Clebert Reece called Chi-Chi and Dwane Williams called “Kussum” relating that they concocted a story in their favour to implicate his client.

Meanwhile, Saphier Husain in his closing submission told the court that his client, Dennis Williams is innocent since he was not there the night in question and the state has failed in its bid to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Williams was ‘part and parcel’ of the incident.

He also told the court that the prosecution has no evidence in court for the trial and his client should be freed of the charge before him, since otherwise it will be a miscarriage of justice because there was no malice or forethought.

The matter has been adjourned to 09:00hrs on Tuesday, when Defence attorney Peter Hugh is expected to make his closing address to members of the jury, after which the state will make its closing submission.

Up to Monday,Chief Prison Officer, Roddy Denheart, said Dennis Williams called “Anaconda” continued refusing to attend court.

On trial are Mark Royden Williams called “Smallie”, Dennis Williams called “Anaconda” and Roger Simon called “Goat Man”, 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 pleaded 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, 12 persons 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. The state is being represented by Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Goodings.