The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeals of two deceased convicts involved in the Bartica massacre case and resentenced the two surviving appellants, Clebert Reece (“Chichi”) and Michael Caesar (“Capone”), to life imprisonment.
Justice Jo-Ann Barlow delivered the unanimous decision on Wednesday. The appeals were filed by Mark Royden Williams, Dennis Williams, Clebert Reece, and Michael Caesar, who were convicted for the brutal killings of 12 individuals during the February 17, 2008 Bartica massacre, which also resulted in the deaths of three police officers.
Mark Royden Williams died in 2023 after escaping from custody, while Dennis Williams passed away in prison in July 2024. Justice Barlow noted that the court determined that an appeal is a personal act and generally cannot continue after the appellant’s death. She explained that while the court has the discretion to continue such matters, it is only exercised in exceptional circumstances.
The court found that there were no exceptional circumstances in these cases to warrant the continuation of the appeals. Justice Barlow remarked, “Further, we believe that in the case of Williams, he had escaped from custody and so could not be said to be expecting the legal system to work for him.”
Turning to the two surviving appellants, the court found that the lengthy sentences imposed by the High Court were inconsistent with established legal principles. The maximum penalty for manslaughter is life imprisonment, and sentences exceeding this were determined to be inappropriate.
As a result, Caesar was sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the 12 counts, with the possibility of parole after 40 years. Justice Barlow highlighted that Caesar admitted to being armed during the attack and displayed a callous disregard for life.
Reece, who did not fire a gun but played a vital role by transporting the gang, was sentenced to life imprisonment on each count, with the possibility of parole after 26 years. The court acknowledged his previous unblemished life and the fear that led him to join the gang but deemed a severe sentence necessary.
The sentences for both Reece and Caesar will run concurrently and take effect from the original sentencing date. The court emphasized the need for justice in light of the gravity of the offenses committed during the Bartica massacre.
