Voir Dire continues in Bartica massacre trial

Nov 09, 2016 News

The Voir Dire (trial within a trial) for Dennis Williams, one of the men on trial for the 2008 Bartica Massacre, in which 12 persons were brutally murdered continued yesterday at the Georgetown High Court .
Judge Roxanne George was expected to make a ruling on the admissibility of the statement procured from accused Dennis Williams, yesterday, given that State Prosecutors Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Goodings called their final witness to the stand.
However, when the trial resumed yesterday, the Prosecutors continued to cross examine Williams, who indicated that he wished to call witnesses to stand. The matter was briefly heard before the judge yesterday. It is expected to continue today.
According to the facts of the case, Williams, called ‘Anaconda’; Mark Royden Williams, called ‘Durant’; and Anthony Simon, called ‘Goat Man’ are on trial for 12 counts of murder. The men are being represented by Attorneys Roger Yearwood, Peter Hugh and Saphier Hussein.
Last week, co-accused Michael Caesar, called ‘Capone’; and Clebert Reece, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of manslaughter.
The guilty pleas by Caesar and Simon resulted from bargains they struck with the State. Both of them will be sentenced on December 16.
During the main trial, state witness, Jaiwantie Singh, detailed testimony of how persons stormed her home at First Avenue Bartica, kicking down doors and firing gunshots during the 2008 Bartica massacre, in which a dozen persons were killed.
According to reports, on the night of February 17, 2008, several gunmen attacked Bartica, slaughtering a dozen people including three police officers, during an hour-long attack. It was reported that the armed men attacked the police station, killing three policemen before freeing prisoners.
They then left with the vehicle assigned to the police station and went on a rampage, terrorizing the community.
The gunmen arrived in the area by boat and departed in a similar fashion taking firearms they grabbed from the police station and a mining company.

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