SEE BELOW THE STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS:
Convicted mass murderer Mark Royden Durant also known as Royden Williams, and “Smallie’ escaped while being escorted back from a visit with the aid of heavily armed accomplices in a speedboat at Mazaruni Prison around 14:30 hrs. today (Friday, May 19, 2023).
The escort party was fired upon with AK-47 automatic rifles from the boat alongside the Mazaruni River during the transfer and during the resulting reported exchange of gunfire; Williams made good his escape.
The boat and its occupants proceeded upstream, past Itaballi landing, while Prison guards and Police in support undertook pursuit.
Additionally, members of the Joint Services have been mobilized to effect the recapture of Williams and to capture and or arrest his accomplices.
A preliminary investigation is underway, and persons are being questioned in relation to this extremely serious incident.
Williams has been convicted of murders stemming from the Bartica massacre in 2008, when he, along with other gunmen, ambushed and killed twelve (12) persons, including three (3) policemen. Additionally, he had been sentenced to death in September last year over the killing on January 23rd, 2008, of Guyana Defence Force member Corporal Ivor Williams.
Royden Williams had previously escaped from the Camp Street Prison on July 09th, 2017 but was recaptured on October 10th, 2017, on the Weldaad Public Road, West Coast Berbice.
The Joint Services and other Security personnel are on high alert. All citizens in the Mazaruni and surrounding areas are hereby advised to take precautions and remain vigilant as the persons sought are armed and are considered as being extremely dangerous.
It should be noted that aiding and abetting a prison escapee can result in three (3) or more years imprisonment when or if convicted.
Details on the search for Williams and his accomplices will be provided as they emerge.
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