Voir dire continues for defendants “Smallie”, “Catty”

TIMES INT'L

The High Court in Georgetown was the scene of continued heavy security on Monday as the murder trial involving defendants Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie”, along with Sherwin Nero, also known as “Catty”, continued.
However, it was a voir dire (trial within a trial), which means that what transpired cannot be publicly disclosed as it may be prejudicial for the ears of the 12-member jury that was empanelled earlier this month when the Demerara Criminal Assizes got underway.
The two men stand accused of the August 30, 2007 murder of businessman Kumar Singh, called “Man-go Man”. Reports were that on the fateful night, four gunmen invaded Singh’s Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home during which the businessman was shot dead. It was in July 2008 that the two suspects were initially charged for the capital offence.
Williams has spent nearly 11 years behind bars awaiting trial and he is also a death-row inmate. The duo has denied being guilty of the businessman’s unlawful killing. Justice James Bovell-Drakes is pre-siding over the matter while State Attorneys Tamica Clarke and Tiffini Lyken are prosecuting the case.
Defence counsels Nigel Hughes and Ashley Henry are representing Williams and Nero. Williams had escaped prison in July 2017 after being sentenced to death in February of that year for the 2008 Bartica Massacre.
The case continues at the High Court.

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