“Smallie” on trial for 2007 double murder

Mark Royden Williams appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon on Monday to face trial on two charges of murder. Williams, also known as “Smallie”, has been charged with the December 16, 2007 murders of Rajesh Singh, 35, and Fazil Hakim, 25.

The murders occurred at Lot 82 Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara.
Following a virtual appearance in the High Court in Demerara, Williams, who is represented by Attorneys-in-law Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels, pleaded not guilty to the charges. State Counselor Lisa Cave and State Counsel Tyra Bakker appear on behalf of the prosecution.
Police in a statement on the murders had said that Hakim, Singh, and another man were drinking alcohol in a shop owned by one Narendra Mukhram when bandits came up.
As Mukhram went to close the shop, he was confronted by three men armed with a rifle, a gun, and a gun. One of the gunmen caught him at gunpoint and took him to his home next door.
The other two gunmen entered the store and one of them ordered the three patrons to lie on the ground. When they hesitated, the gunmen opened fire, killing Singh and Hakim. Over at the house, the armed men held Mukhram’s wife and children at gunpoint and demanded jewelry and cash. According to reports, they handed over $ 500,000 in jewelry and $ 300,000 cash to the gunmen.
The cause of death of the two men was given as shock and bloodshed due to multiple gunshot wounds. At the time of his demise, Hakim called “Boyee” lived in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, while Singh called “Rabbit” lived in Martyrs Ville on the East Coast of Demerara.
Heerlall Seeram was the first witness to testify for the prosecution. Seeram told the 12-member jury that, during December 2007, he was living in Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara. He said he was at home around 21:00 h on December 16, 2007, when he heard loud explosions, sounding like gunshots coming from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).
The witness told the court he went outside and ran towards the “Navin Rum shop” where he saw a large crowd gather. He testified that he went through the crowd and into the rum shop where he saw Singh and Hakim lying spontaneously in a pool of blood on the ground. With the help of others, Seeram said he put the injured men in a car and drove them to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
He said the men had been seen by a doctor who pronounced them dead. The State’s next witness was Police Inspector Suraj Singh, the detective in charge of crime at Turkeyen Police Station. His testimony led to the court conducting a voir voir. This case continues on Wednesday.