…friends released on own recognizance
The two friends of 19-year-old University of Guyana (UG) student, Harris Persaud, who were in the lock-ups following the death of the young man have been released on their own recognizance.
This is according to “A” Division Commander Clifton Hicken who told INews this morning that when the body of the Persaud was found and a Post Mortem Examination (PME) was conducted, it revealed that he died from drowning.
As such, Persaud’s, two friends who had been in police custody were released on their own recognizance, since there were no marks of violence about his body to indicate that he had been visibly harmed by the duo.
However, police are presently preparing the case file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice on whether or not the two young men should face any criminal charges.
According to Commander Hicken, based on the advice emanating from the office of the DPP, law enforcement officials will then know how to proceed.
“We, the police cannot proceed until we hear from the DPP as to what she advises with the case. As it is, the body of Mr Persaud had no marks of violence so there was nothing to hold the two boys. But we are going to move forward when the file comes back from the DPP based on the advice,” he stated.
Persaud who hailed from Lot 21 Granny Field, Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), went missing on Wednesday last.
His body was found floating in the Demerara River in the vicinity of Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Friday afternoon.
The young man was last seen on Wednesday by his relatives when he left home to attend classes at UG. The Police had arrested the teen’s two friends with whom he was last seen.
The two men told Police that Persaud was swimming with them behind the Marriott Hotel, when a wave swept him away. They claimed that they panicked, and disposed of his clothing and other belongings at different villages along the ECD.
