Death sentence for Tuschen man found guilty of Anna Catherina triple murder
The death sentence has been imposed on 36-year-old Abishai Caesar for the September 2012 murders of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD) businesswoman 41-year-old Jennifer Persaud and her two sons, Afridi Bacchus, 6, and 17-month-old Jadon Ernest.
Last May, Caesar was found guilty by a jury on three counts of murder. He was sentenced to death by hanging on Wednesday by High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Demerara.
At the commencement of his trial, Caesar of Tuschen, East Bank Demerara had pleaded not guilty to the charges which stated that he murdered the businesswoman and her two children between September 21 and 22, 2012 at Sea View Anna Catherina, WCD.
During a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, the businesswoman’s father, Kumar Persaud said that he was pleased with the verdicts of the court. In fact, he said, “I’m happy with the verdict; justice has been served. My daughter and grandsons can finally rest in peace”.
Justice Kissoon, in imposing the capital punishment, told the convicted killer, “Abishai Caesar, you have treated life and death as meaningless. It is only right, it is only proper, and it is only just, in view of your horrific crimes having regards to the exceptional and specific circumstances that I have eluded that you be sentenced to death”.
Even after the jury’s guilty verdicts, Caesar maintained that he was innocent. “I would say that I maintain my innocence. I did not kill Jennifer Persaud and her children.”
State Counsel Lisa Cave and State Counsel Tyra Bakker presented the case for the Prosecution, while Attorney-at-law Rachael Bakker appeared on behalf of Caesar.
This was Caesar’s second trial for the murders; his first trial back in 2019 ended in a hung jury.
Caesar broke into the businesswoman’s home and robbed and killed her and her two sons by slitting their throats. He was only arrested for the horrendous killings in April 2016, after his former reputed wife informed the Police that he had confided in her about killing the family.
