An employee of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was on Monday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of attempting to murder his wife.
Ganga Persaud, 54, of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD), appeared before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury on trial for two charges – attempted murder and felonious wounding.
The man, who was formerly employed at GuySuCo’s Uitvlugt Estate, faced these charges after he attacked his wife Sumintra Rampersaud on July 29, 2009 after she was allegedly engaged in a conversation with another man whom her husband suspected she was having an affair with.
The Court heard the testimony of the arresting Police Officer as well as the defendant’s statement. Police witness Derrick Foo told the Court that on the day in question at about 20:45h, relevant to a report made at the Leonora Police Station, he went to a shop at Meten-Meer-Zorg where he met Persaud, whom he told of the allegation and cautioned him.
He stated that while under caution, Persaud said “Me and meh wife separate for three months now. Meh hear she got an affair with a watchman name Boss. On July 29, 2009 I was waiting fuh she at the street head and ah see my wife and ‘Boss’ talking”.
The Officer further explained that the defendant admitted that he dealt the woman a series of punches to her head and when she fell, he stripped her of her clothing and subsequently used a stick, which was 1.5 inches thick, to assault her, piercing her inches away from her genitals twice in the process. Foo stated that after giving this statement, the defendant said “meh sorry”.
The Prosecutors also indicated that before assaulting the woman with the stick, Persaud used his fingers to penetrate the woman’s vagina, telling the man she was with “you next, this is wuh yuh been want see.”
However, the unrepresented defendant denied these allegations and said he was being framed and that on the day in question he was at the shop from 15:00h in the afternoon until he was arrested.
However, earlier in the proceedings, he admitted he suspected that his wife and the watchman were having an affair, saying, “Me and meh wife used to live very, very good. Suddenly from encouragement from people Mr Boss start visiting my wife when me ain’t deh home.”
When called to lead his defence, Persaud opted to give an unsworn statement. He related that he has five children with his wife whom he lived with for over 13 years. “On that said night, for what I am being framed for, I was at a shop at Meten-Meer-Zorg back street,” he stated.
He further explained that he was there for some time, and later Officer Foo arrested and took him to the Leonora Police Station.
He further alleged that the next day he was beaten with a baton by officers in an attempt to get him to admit to the crime which he did not commit. “This statement is true and correct to the best of my knowledge,” the defendant stated in closing.
After deliberating for over two hours, the Jury today delivered the guilty verdict 10-2.
Justice Singh subsequently handed down the sentence to Persaud.
The State was represented by attorneys Narissa Leander, and Siand Dhurjon.
Best sentence I ever hear guyana give out.. ..What I don’t understand tho, is how come nobody came to this woman aid when she husband assaulting she in public.That is when community strength was needed…n they did nothing. So sad😐