Dwane Williams was arrested over Bartica massacre but not charged – court hears

Superintendent of Police Trevor Reid, on Wednesday said, that while former Lusignan massacre co-accused Dwane Williams, was once arrested in relation to the massacre of 12 persons at Bartica in 2008, he was never charged.

Reid was at the time responding to questions under cross-examination, at the trial of Dennis Williams, called ‘Anaconda,’ Mark Royden Williams, called ‘Smallie’ and Roger Simon, called ‘Goat Man, who have been indicted for the murders.

The charge against the three men, is that on February 17, 2008, they murdered Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne, Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas, and Baldeo Singh.

Dwane Williams called ‘Small Fren,’ is a former co-accused in the January 26, 2008 Lusignan massacre, in which 11 persons, including five children were killed.

Quizzed by Mark Royden Williams’ attorney, Roger Yearwood, as to whether he knew Dwane Williams, Reid said yes.

When asked by Yearwood, Reid said that he was in charge of the daily Georgetown-investigations into the massacre of the 12 men at Bartica, that while Dwane was arrested in relation to this matter, he was not charged.

Counsel then asked the Superintendent, whether it was not true that Dwane Williams had confessed to being present at a number of criminal activities, in which about 30 persons lost their lives.

Reid said that he would first have to check the records to verify that many deaths, and would not rely on his memory. However, he answered in the affirmative, stating that the former Lusignan massacre co-accused, did confess to being present at some criminal activities.

Further questioned, the witness said that while it is true that Dwane is not facing charges in relation to the killings at Bartica, he had been indicted for the murders at Lusignan.

Counsel then enquired from Reid, whether he was not aware that those charges against Dwane Williams, had been withdrawn. Reid responded in the negative.

In 2013, Dwane Williams, who was placed under police protection, testified as a witness for the prosecution in the Lusignan massacre trial, after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) withdrew the charge against him.

Reid had previously testified that Dennis Williams related to him that he had witnessed some of the 12 men at Bartica being killed, but that he did not kill anyone.

For his part, defence attorney Peter Hugh, who is representing Roger Simon, questioned Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarrabo, as to whether he had done anything to investigate his client’s claim, of being in the interior at the time of the alleged attacks.  Sarrabo said he did not.

This question was also posed to Reid, who said that Simon had told him that he was in the interior at the time of the alleged murders.

Reid said that he had passed this information on to his superiors.

Asked if he was aware that persons had given statements of Simon’s whereabouts in the interior during the attacks, Reid said he could not recall.

Sarrabo had previously testified of being present when Detective Inspector Singh put the allegation to Simon, who responded; ‘Boss man, I went in the interior, wukking. I ain’t know nothing.’

The State’s case is being presented by Prosecutors Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Goodings.

Dennis Williams, is represented by attorney Saphier Hussain.

The trial continues this morning at 9, before Justice Roxane George and a 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown.