Death row inmate ‘Smallie’ found not guilty for 2007 murders

Sentenced to death for the 2008 Bartica massacre, notorious mass-murderer, Mark Royden Williams, also known as ‘Smallie’ was on Thursday found not guilty for the murders of two men during an armed robbery at a bar on Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara in 2007.

Williams was on trial before High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon, and a 12-member jury for the December 16, 2007 murder of Fazil Hakim called ‘Boyie’ and Rajesh Singh called ‘Rabbit’.

Williams had pleaded not guilty to the two counts of murder and was represented by attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes; the State was represented by prosecutor, Lisa Cave.   After deliberating for almost two hours on Thursday, the jury returned a not guilty verdict on both counts.

Michael Caesar, also known as ‘Capone’, who was charged jointly with Williams, is currently serving a 13-year sentence for the offences after taking a plea for manslaughter in 2020. Caesar is also serving 60 years in prison for the Lusignan and Bartica massacres.

According to reports, on December 16, 2007, Hakim and Singh, along with another man, were consuming alcohol at a bar on Agriculture Road; the bar was stormed by armed men who held them at gunpoint.

The bandits went into the bar and robbed the owner and another man. Before escaping, the bandits shot Hakim and Singh.

In 2017, Williams was sentenced to death on eight counts of murder for the 2008 Bartica massacre. He, however, has appealed both his sentencing and conviction.

Also, in 2013, Williams was found not guilty of 11 counts of murder in relation to the 2008 Lusignan massacre.