Man confesses to fatally stabbing former Top Cop’s brother during robbery
A 20-year-old man, who was 15, when he fatally stabbed another man during a robbery, confessed to the crime on Thursday before Demerara High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon.
For legal reasons, the photograph, name and other particulars of the 20-year-old have to be withheld because he was a juvenile when he committed the crime.
Initially indicted for the capital offence of murder, he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, admitting that he unlawfully killed Hemant Persaud on February 19, 2017, during the course/furtherance of a robbery at Stabroek Market in Georgetown.
Hemant Persaud is the brother of former Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud.
Court facts revealed that Hemant Persaud called ‘Bhim’, 51, of Affiance Village, Essequibo Coast was stabbed to death by the then-teenager who robbed him of a gold chain he was wearing.
Meanwhile, in his address to the court, the 20-year-old begged Justice Kissoon for leniency stating, “I was young and lacked guidance. I would like an opportunity to continue my efforts and contribute meaningfully to society and further my studies. I just begging the honourable court to have mercy and leniency on me. Give me an opportunity to correct my wrong…”
He was remanded to prison pending a sentencing hearing which is fixed for September 26. At that hearing, social and psychological reports on him will be presented to the court.
State Counsel Muntaz Ali represented the prosecution while Attorney-at-Law Alaira Murphy-Goodman appeared on behalf of the man.
The man was first charged with Hemant Persaud’s murder in March 2017 and thereafter remanded to prison.
At the end of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) in February 2018, he was committed to stand trial at the Demerara High Court after a Magistrate ruled that a prima facie case was made out against him.
After he was arrested by the Police and taken into custody, the then teenager, while in the presence of his mother, confessed to the crime, court facts revealed.
