The Court of Appeal has concluded hearings in the appeals stemming from the 2008 Bartica Massacre and is set to hand down its ruling on March 11, 2026.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers made the announcement on Wednesday, following the close of arguments in the appeals.
The appeals were filed by Mark Royden Williams, Dennis Williams, Clebert Reece and Michael Caesar — all of whom were convicted between 2016 and February 2017 in connection with the brutal killing of 12 persons during the massacre.
Although Mark Royden Williams died in 2023 and Dennis Williams died in July 2024, the appeals had been filed on their behalf seeking to overturn their convictions.
However, according to the DPP Chambers, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Diana O’Brien, argued that the continuation of the appeals was improper, contending that the right to appeal is statutory and does not survive the death of an appellant under the Court of Appeal Act.
She further submitted that proceeding with the matters would amount to a misuse of judicial time and state resources, a position she supported with legal precedent.
Clebert Reece, known as Chichi’ and Michael Caesar called ‘Capone’ had pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Reece was sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment, with eligibility for parole after 30 years while Caesar was sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
Both men have appealed their convictions and sentences.
The appeals arise from the February 17, 2008 massacre in Bartica, during which 12 persons including three police officers were killed.
The post Court to deliver ruling on March 11 in Bartica Massacre appeals appeared first on News Room Guyana.
