DPP advises murder charge in Lusignan prison killing

The police have been advised to institute a murder charge against the suspect accused of fatally beating remanded prisoner Samuel Lyttle last Tuesday while in custody at the Lusignan Prison.

Stabroek News was reliably informed that investigators received legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge Devendra Persaud, called ‘Fish teeth,’ 31, of Unity Backdam, Mahaica.

Lyttle, called ‘Tuff Chest,’ 23, a labourer of Lot 1 Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) last Wednesday morning, less than a day after he was assulted by a fellow inmate at the Lusignan Prison.

Director of Prisons (ag) Gladwin Samuels had said the incident occurred 2 pm last Tuesday in Holding Bay 4 of the Lusignan Prison.

Lyttle succumbed 10.30 am on the following day.

An autopsy later revealed that Lyttle died as a result of multiple blunt trauma to the head.

Samuels had said Lyttle was “struck with an object” by a fellow inmate.

He was referred from the prison infirmary to the GPH.

However, Stabroek News understands that Lyttle and the suspect had an ongoing feud stemming from Lyttle bullying him and other inmates.

On the day of the incident, Lyttle was in a hammock, when the suspect allegedly attacked him and dealt him several lashes to his head before he was restrained by prison officers.

The suspected murder weapon, a piece of wood, was recovered.

Lyttle was admitted to prison exactly one week prior to the incident on a break and enter and larceny charge.