Latest update March 21st, 2025 5:44 AM
Two West Berbice residents on trial for murder in Berbice High Court
Mark Exteen Massiah, called “Red Man” and Sean Benjamin, called “Blacka” or “Blackboy”, both of Rosignol, are in the High Court facing trial for murder.
The trial which began on Tuesday in the Berbice High Court before Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire and a mixed jury, continued on Wednesday.
The two are charged with the murder of Ian Adonis, called “Safo” or “Iron” of Lot 30 Edward Street, Rosignol. The victim was 41 at the time.
Leaving court, Mark Massiah (left) and Sean Benjamin.
When the matter began, prosecutor Attorney at law Prithina Kissoon highlighted to the jury some of their expectations. The state also called three witnesses, Carol Nicholson, the reputed wife of the deceased, Leslyn Nightingale, who is the eyewitness and police detective Denish Baichu.
First to take the witness stand was Nicholson, who stated that she had been living with the deceased for more than nine years.
On the night of August 29, 2007 she was at home with her daughter between 11:00 hours and 11:30 hours when she heard someone calling. She and her daughter eventually ventured out on the road in search of her reputed husband. They eventually found Adonis’ motionless body on the street.
She said that she ran to his sister Sharon’s residence some distance away.
The police were eventually summoned and the body was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where Adonis was pronounced dead.
Next on the witness stand was Nightingale who told the court that on the fateful night she was working at a restaurant in Rosignol. She said that she left her work place at 23:00 hrs, and then walked across to the bus park on her way home. She said on her way home she saw Benjamin and Adonis under a shed at Benjamin’s home. She knew Benjamin, but they were not friends and never spoke to him but he would speak to her calling her ‘Black Bird. ’
She described how she heard the men arguing over weed and saw ‘Black Boy’ hit Adonis on his head, Adonis fell. Adonis then got up and tried to run. The witness told the court that she witnessed ‘Black Boy’ repeatedly hitting Adonis.
Under cross examination by Defense Attorney Raymond Ali, Nightingale said that the men were arguing over money too. The woman told the court that Black Boy saw her and told her that “if you say anything what happen tonight” he would kill her.
She said that subsequently one ‘Ashook’ passed and enquired of Black Boy what happened. Shortly after one woman called Jenny, passed and also asked what happened but got no answer. She continued that she went home and went to bed and only got up when her cousin, Kim, came home. After they discussed the matter they decided to tell Adonis’ sister, Sharon, what transpired.
Detective Constable Baichu then took the stand and related to the court the role he played during the investigation. He stated that he visited the scene and saw the victim lying on the ground. At the scene he said he observed a wound over the right eye. A piece of wood and a knife were found at the scene. He accompanied the body to the Fort Wellington Hospital where it was pronounced dead on arrival.
The two accused were subsequently arrested along with others. Benjamin was arrested later the same night in the vicinity of the Rosignol Ferry Stelling while Messiah was arrested a few days later at Mahaica.
The police rank witnessed the Post Mortem examination. The cause of death was given as hemorrhaging and a fractured skull.
Relatives found Adonis, a father of six, covered face down in a pool of blood in a street a short distance from his home.
The matter is continuing.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
“One Guyana” is no less a national slogan than “Green Guyana”
Kaieteur News- The notion that “One Guyana” is a partisan slogan is pure poppycock. It is a desperate fiction... more
If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- In the latest... more
Weekend Cartoon
