Bartica massacre trial Former cop says two accused stood with guns in front of police station
Ex-cop Carl Methuram, yesterday said that he saw Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams standing with guns in front of the Bartica Police Station, moments after hearing rapid gunfire coming from that direction.
Methuram was at the time testifying at the trial of Mark Williams, called “Smallie” and Dennis Williams, called “Anaconda,” who, together with Roger Simon, called “Goat Man,” are accused of the 2008 massacre of 12 men, including three police officers at Bartica.
The charge against the trio is that on February 17, 2008, they murdered Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne, as well as Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas, and Baldeo Singh.
Methuram also testified to identifying the two Williams men on an identification parade (ID).
The witness said that on the night in question sometime after 9 pm, he received a phone call about a shooting at the station, as a result of which he proceeded there.
On his way, he told the court that he heard rapid gunfire coming from that direction.
As a result, he said he stopped some 250 meters before reaching the station and tactically hid behind two garbage bins, to make observations.
Methuram detailed seeing movement of four men in front of, and around the station, all carrying firearms on that night— cursing and talking loudly. He later identified two of those persons as being Mark Williams and Dennis Williams.
He said he then saw three other men exiting the station, and together with those who were outside, they all boarded a vehicle and drove off in a southern direction.
After remaining in hiding for about 25 minutes, the witness said that he then went over to the station, where he observed a man lying face down bleeding, whom he later realized to be a uniformed RK security guard.
The witness said that upon entering the station, he shouted “police,” but got no answer. He described inside as being ransacked, and said he observed the lock for the firearm storage box to be broken and some of the weapons outside.
He said that at the nearby Banks DIH building, was another security guard lying, bleeding on the ground. Thereafter, the witness said he heard the crying voice of a little girl, who called out to him for help. He said she had a suspected gunshot injury to her leg.
The witness said that as he assisted the injured persons to the hospital, further gunshots could be heard.
Methuram said that on June 18, 2008; he went to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Eve Leary, where he picked out Mark and Dennis on an ID parade.
Dwane Williams
Meanwhile, Dwane Williams; one of the prosecution’s main witnesses, completed his testimony yesterday morning after his cross-examination by the defence ended.
Dwane Williams is a former coaccused in the January 26, 2008 Lusignan massacre, in which 11 persons, including five children were killed. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had withdrawn the charges against him.
He had testified to being present during the attack on the Bartica community and was arrested in connection with it, but was never charged.
Under cross-examination, Dennis Williams’ attorney, Saphier Hussain enquired from Dwane Williams whether he was in “protective” custody; to which the witness repeatedly stressed that he was in “custody.”
The young man continued, “I don’t know anything about protective custody; and the difference between “state,” “police” or “protective” custody. I am in custody,” he stressed.
In response to questions from the prosecutor, when he testified on Tuesday, Dwane Williams, when asked where he currently lives, had said, that he was in “police custody.”
Under cross-examination by Simon’s attorney Peter Hugh, Dwane Williams agreed that there was a man called “Papa Willie,” at Bartica on the night of the attack, and that, that person had dreadlocks and had a beard.
The witness accepted that the first time he had seen Hugh’s client was during the preliminary inquiry at the Magistrate’s Court.
Asked if Simon was among the group that went to Bartica on the night of the attack, Dwane said no.
Mark Royden Williams is represented by attorney Roger Yearwood. Meanwhile, the state’s case is being presented by prosecutors Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Goodings.
The trial continues this morning at 9 am, before Justice Roxane George SC, at the High Court in Georgetown.