MURDER ACCUSED FOUND HANGING IN POLICE CELL

Dianand Persad, 33, a Guyanese, was found hanging in his cell at the Siparia Police Station early yesterday morning, shortly before he was due to be taken to the neighbouring Magis-trates’ Court to face a charge of murdering Rishi Nanlal. As Persad’s body was being removed to the Forensic Centre, Jassodra Mahase, Rishi’s sister, was appearing in the same court charged with maliciously wounding Persad earlier this week when she allegedly struck him in his head with a stone.

Nanlal’s partially burnt corpse was found in bushes at the back of his home at Timital Road, San Francique. Yesterday, Mahase who was being comforted by her husband, Raffie Mahase told Newsday that she was shocked to learn of Persad’s death. “I did not think he would have done something like that. It is funny that he died on the day of my brother’s funeral.” Nanlal was buried yesterday. Both Persad and the murder victim Nanlal were neighbours. Mahase said that the death of Persad brought her no comfort and she believed that in spite of this development justice may have better been served the legal way against the man who was accused of killing her brother.

“Taking his life was no punishment for him” she said. Mahase had appeared in court on Wednesday charged with maliciously wounding Persad. The incident was alleged to have occurred at the scene of the murder while a handcuffed Persad was under police guard.  Persad had to be taken to the San Fernando General Hospital for treatment. Attorney Roopnarine Rambachan said he would enter a guilty plea on his client’s behalf. She has already been granted $7,500 bail.

The case against Mahase may have to be dismissed as the virtual complainant Persad is dead. But this could not be done immediately because according to senior Magistrate Lucina Cardinas-Ragoonanan and prosecutor Sgt Cooper, the evidence of Persad’s death had to be brought to the court. Sgt Cooper said “proof is needed that he is no longer with us.” However Mahase’s case was adjourned to March 26 by which time  Persad’s death certificate would be ready.