Death row inmate, Royden Williams known as ‘Smallie’ escaped from the Mazaruni Prison in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Friday afternoon where he was incarcerated for a number of high-profile crimes.
Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, confirmed that Williams escaped sometime around 15:00 hrs.
Details surrounding how he managed to flee the maximum security facility remain unclear at this time, however, Police Headquarters confirmed that a search was conducted at the penitentiary between 06:30 hrs and 10:30 hrs on Friday during which several prohibited items were found and confiscated.
Meanwhile, the News Room understands that a manhunt has been launched by members of the Joint Services to recapture Williams.
This is not the first time Williams escaped from custody; in July 2017, Williams fled following a massive fire at the Camp Street Prison during which several prisoners died.
He was subsequently recaptured at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice. Williams is currently facing nine death sentences.
The most recent was handed down in September 2022 after he was found guilty of murdering Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier, Ivor Williams which occurred in 2008.
In 2017, he was sentenced to death on eight counts of murder for the 2008 Bartica massacre. He, however, has appealed both his sentencing and conviction.
The mass murderer was also charged in relation to several other offences.
In 2013, Williams was found not guilty of 11 counts of murder in relation to the 2008 Lusignan massacre.
In 2019, Williams was freed of the 2007 murder of Kumar ‘Mango Man’ Singh after a 12-member jury found him not guilty.
And in 2022, he was freed of two counts of murder after a jury found him not guilty of killing two men during an armed robbery at a bar at Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara in 2007.
