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Final witness takes stand in Bartica Massacre trial
The Prosecution has called their final witness in the trial of the three persons accused of killing 12 people at Bartica, in February 2008.
The witness, Bartica businessman/miner Chunilall Baboolall, yesterday, testified that he lost a quantity of gold and diamond following the attack at Bartica in February 2008.
Three persons, Mark Royden Williams, called Durant and Smallie; Dennis Williams called Anaconda; and Roger Anthony Simon, called ‘Goat Man’ are on trial before Justice Roxanne George and a mixed 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown.
According to the witness Sunday, February 17, 2008, the men were among a number of gunmen who attacked the mining community of Bartica, Essequibo, killing 12 residents.
Among the deceased were Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constable Shane Fredericks and Constable Ron Osborne; Edwin Gilkes, Abdool Yassin Jr, Deonarine Singh, Errol Thomas, Ronald Gomes, Baldeo Singh, Ashraf Khan, Irving Ferreira and Dexter Adrian.
After murdering the police officers, the gang is said to have stolen cash, arms, ammunition and a vehicle from the police station. Using the stolen police vehicle, they drove through the streets of Bartica shooting at civilians.
They proceeded to CBR Mining, where they stole arms and ammunition, and removed two safes containing cash and gold. After their one-hour rampage, the gunmen departed Bartica by boat.
In his evidence to the court, yesterday Baboolall also called ‘Vulture’, recalled that he found his Lot 67 First Avenue, Bartica mining office had been broken into following the attack.
The witness said that there was what appeared to be bullet holes in the building and a safe with the minerals had gone missing.
Following, Baboolall‘s testimony, State Prosecutors Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Goodings told the court that they had closed their case.
Defence Counsel, Peter Hugh and Saphier Hussein, are expected to present submissions in the absence of the jury today.
The businessman is among 18 witnesses who testified in the trial of the three men.
On Monday Police Detective, Suraj Singh, recounted his portion of evidence to the court. He reiterated the statements given by the three men accused of slaughtering 12 persons at Bartica in February 2008.
Detective Singh told the court that constable Chester Benjamin pointed out Roger Simon, during an identification parade, some time after the incident.
The witness recalled that Benjamin identified Simon as one of the men, who attacked the Bartica Police Station in February 2008.
Singh recalled that Simon responded to the allegations by the saying, “Boss man me ain’t understand. What’s going on?”
He said that on April 8, 2008, the accused was cautioned and the allegation of murder was put to him.
This time, he related to the court that Simon was told that he was in the company of others who shot and killed 12 persons at Bartica, Essequibo, on February 17, 2008.
In response to the allegation, he said that Simon stated, “Boss man I was in the interior working. Me ain’t know nothing about this. Me ain’t know what going on…”
Singh said, too, that the suspect (Simon) declined to give a written statement to the police on the matter.
He recounted that he therefore made an entry of the man’s oral statement in the station diary.
The officer noted that no threats, promises, or inducements were offered to the accused for him to give the statements.
The policeman testified to taking the statements from the other two accused persons, Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams.
Both of whom he recalled gave oral statements on the incident.
In relation to Mark Royden Williams, Officer Singh said that after he was picked out by Policeman Carl Methuram, on an identification parade, he was cautioned and the allegation of murder was put to him.
The witness noted that Williams had responded by saying is “Saddest (Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins) come and I had to go.”
The accused however declined to say anything further. “Me nah mek no more statement man.”
The policeman recalled that he cautioned the accused in accordance with the Judge’s rules before he gave the oral statement.
He had also asked Williams if he wanted anyone present at the time of the statement but he replied in the negative.
Detective Singh said that some time afterwards, the other accused, Dennis Williams, was cautioned and the allegation of murder was put to him in relation to the Bartica incident.
The witness said that Dennis Williams told detectives that he was at Bartica but he didn’t kill anyone.
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