Massacre trial…I was never at Bartica when it was attacked

Jan 20, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

– accused tells court

Bartica massacre accused Mark Royden Williams told the court yesterday that he was never at the island, the night it was attacked and twelve people were killed.
Williams, called Durant and Smallie; Dennis Williams called Anaconda, and Roger Anthony Simon, called ‘Goat Man’ are on trial for the murders.
Their trial is ongoing before Justice Roxanne George and a mixed 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown.
According to the allegation Sunday, February 17, 2008, the men were among a number of gunmen who attacked the Mining community of Bartica, Essequibo, killing 12 residents.
Williams was called upon to lead his defence after Justice George overruled a no-case submission presented by his attorney, Roger Yearwood. After electing to give an unsworn statement, the accused stood in the prisoner’s dock, and addressed the Judge and Jury.
In his brief statement, Williams told the court, he was never at Bartica on the night, it came under attack.
“I was at the home of my cousin, Sheldon Williams. That‘s the same place the police arrested me on June 15, 2008. At the time, they told me I was arrested for an incident, but not the one at Bartica.
He said that in May 2009 he was charged with the Bartica Massacre.
“On the night of the incident, I was watching television at my cousin’s house.”
The accused recalled that he saw something on television about Bartica.
“I called my cousin, Sheldon who was asleep and tell him about the incident at Bartica. I am innocent.”
After the statement by the accused, Attorney Roger Yearwood called Sheldon Williams to the stand.
The witness told the court that he was a policeman prior to the Bartica killings but he currently works as a taxi driver.
Williams said that he left the Police Force to work as a minibus driver.
The witness claimed that his cousin, Royden, was with him when he found out about the murders at Bartica.
“I was in my room lying down. My cousin, Royden Williams came in and touched me to get up. .. I looked at the TV and see the Bartica incident. I felt a lot of pain.”
The witness recalled that after viewing the newscast briefly, he returned to bed.
Williams claimed that on June 15, 2008, he was in his room praying, when his cousin Royden came in again. The witness said that his time, when he came outside, police had surrounded his house. The officers, he recalled, searched his house and yard before they arrested himself and his cousin.
The man told the court that he was charged for harbouring a wanted man, but he never knew that his cousin was wanted.
At certain points of his testimony, the witness’s voice cracked, particularly as he recalled that his close friends from that Police Station, Officers Fredericks and Zakir had died in the massacre.
“Officer Fredericks was like a father to me and Zakir was like my brother.”
“I was hurt, very hurt,” the witness said.
Under cross-examination by State Counsel Stacy Goodings, the man told the court, while it was important for him to go to the police and tell them his cousin’s whereabouts at the time of the Bartica killing, he didn’t go, because he had his children to care for.
At several points of the questioning, Williams repeatedly told the court that he was scared for his life. His response, prompted the Judge to ask “scared of what?”
“Because I lost nuff of me squaddies dem in duh incident,” Williams responded.
He was then asked what he did after he found out that his close friends were dead.
“What was your reaction after you heard about your friends that had died? You just went back to bed? You contacted no one? You just went back to bed?” asked Prosecutor Goodings.
“Yes,” the witness cried, noting once more that he was very hurt.
“I am suggesting to you that you are lying to this honourable court,” Goodings said
“No, I talking the truth,” Williams retorted.
At certain points of his testimony, the witness would mutter words and appear baffled at the questions, causing the prosecution to repeat the questions.
The trial will continue on Monday.