It was another day in court for condemned and recaptured prison escapee, Mark Royden Williams. He along with Sherwin Nero, appeared in the High court this morning as the trial commenced into the murder of Kumar Singh called “Mango Man”.
Dead Kumar Singh “call mango man”.
The alleged murder took place back in 2007 at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara.
The men appeared before Justice Brassingon Renolds in the High Court. Attorney at law, Nigel Hughes who is representing Nero said the two men were charged since July 2008 and it is only now that the indictment is coming up. The men were committed to stand trial in 2012.
Hughes pointed to a recent Caribbean Court of Justice decision in which Bridgelall it took 6 years, including the appellate process for Mr. Bridgelall to get to the CCJ, which was said to be an unreasonable time. Hughes, said he submitted to the court that a wait for 9 years, from the time the men were charged, to the time the case came up in the High court was more than an unreasonable breach of their fundamental constitutional rights which is granted by article 144.
Murder accused Mark Royden Williams and Sherwin Nero,
The attorney told the court that in September, his client Nero had filed an action in the High court saying that the delay in getting his matter tried was unconstitutional. In addition to that, he noted that one of the witnesses for Nero’s defense had passed away two years ago and he would have provided him with a good defense.
Hughes also appeared Amicus curiae for Williams and he believes that Williams’ circumstances are of significant legal importance and the court ought not to allow a breach of his rights in this case. The third accused in the case Andrew Philander perished in a fire in the jailhouse over a year ago.
Under tight security, the lawmen took up a strategic position in the courtyard as they escorted Williams and Nero back to the Camp Street Jail.