Cops probe death of murder accused

AN OFFICIAL investigation has been launched into the hanging death of Guyanese born Dianand Persad, who was found hanging in a cell at Siparia Police Station last Friday,  moments before he was to appear before a magistrate charged with the murder of Rishi Nanlal. Newsday learnt investigators are probing how Persad got the cord which he used to hang himself, since prisoners were not allowed to keep items such as shoelaces and belts while in police custody. Persad reportedly used the draw string from a jacket to hang himself. His body was discovered around 7.40 am, hours before he was to appear in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court charged with murdering his neighbour Nanlal, 27, who was beaten to death and his body partially burnt. An autopsy on Persad’s body, carried out at the Forensic Science Centre, concluded death was due to asphyxia consistent with hanging. Inspt Honore of Penal CID is continuing investigations.