Dredge owner provides alibi for Bartica massacre accused

Jan 27, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

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Brian Chase, the proprietor of a mining operation in Region Seven told the court yesterday that

Bartica massacre accused, Roger Simon, was with him at Cornfield, Kaburi mining district, Potaro River on February 17, 2008, the same date the mass murders took place.

According to the allegation, on that day, Roger Anthony Simon, called ‘Goat Man,’ Mark Royden Williams, called Durant and Smallie; Dennis Williams called Anaconda were among a number of gunmen, who attacked the mining community of Bartica, Essequibo, killing 12 residents.

According to the indictment, the  three accused are said to have murdered 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 three 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.

Their trial is ongoing before Justice Roxanne George and a mixed 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown.

Yesterday, the dredge owner (Chase) was called to the stand by Attorney, Peter Hugh.  The businessman explained to the Court, he has known the accused for some 15 years.

The witness said that Simon called “Goat man,” was working on his dredge operation in February 2008.

Asked specifically about what he remembers about February 17, 2008, the witness said “goat man was among the men working with me at the time.”

He pointed to the prisoner (Simon) seated in the docks.  The accused remained with his head bowed for most of the time.

The dredge owner went on to tell the court that on February 18, he received a message for Simon and he (Simon) decided to leave the camp to head home to his family after the information was relayed to him.

He said that he later learnt that the man was arrested while coming back to work on the dredge.

As a result, the dredge owner said that he and team went to Bartica to tell the police where ‘Goat man,’ was at the time of the killings.

“And where was ‘Goat man,’ at the time of the massacre?” asked the Attorney.

“In the Camp, my Camp,” the witness stated firmly.

Under Cross examination, by State Attorney Diana Kaulesar, the businessman remained resolute that he knew where the accused had been on February 17, 2008.

The Prosecutor questioned the witness about his relationship with the accused.

“What you mean by my relationship with him? He worked for me. He is not my friend,” Chase stated.

“I am suggesting that you are here to help Roger Simon,” the Prosecutor said.

“I am here to help Roger Simon by telling the truth,” the witness retorted

Chase’s evidence followed the testimony of the accused, himself.

The accused had elected to an unsworn statement. He stood from the Prisoner’s Docks and recounted that he was at Cornfield, Kaburi mining District working on a mining camp when the shootings occurred at Bartica.

Simon said he only left the area after he received a message from his boss on February 18, 2008.

“After the message come, I say ah got to go see my wife and family,” he added.

The accused recalled that some time after, while returning to the backdam, the police picked him up.

“They tell me that they holding me for de Bartica Massacre.  I tell them that I don’t know anything about that.”

However, Simon said that he was placed on an identification Parade and was later informed by Police Officers, including Seelall Persaud, who was crime chief at the time, that he was picked out on the parade. The accused said that he continued to deny the allegations but he faced beating from the police.

“Dem beat me and throw three buckets of water in my cell. I keep telling them that I aint know what they talking about. Me aint know nothing about Bartica.”

During yesterday’s proceedings, the number two accused, Dennis Williams, was absent.

This is the second instance that Williams has reportedly declined to attend court.  He was also absent on Wednesday. The accused is said to have refused to attend court, even after he was told that he needed to attend the trial by Senior Prison Officials.

However Williams’ attorney Saphier Husain was present at yesterday’s hearing.

Last Tuesday, Husain requested to withdraw his appearance from the trial.  His request was denied by the trial judge, who noted that it was not in the interest of justice, if the attorney withdrew his service at this point in the trial.

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