Parika man charged with murdering wife
Gurudeen Lalaram was charged on Thursday with the murder of his wife Parbattie Amanda Persaud, a 25-year-old vendor of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, which occurred on the 31st December 2023.
Lalaram is accused of beating his wife to death with a piece of wood at Parika. He made his court appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on Thursday before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul.
He was not required to plead to the murder charge when it was read to him and was remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to 2nd February 2024.
Enquiries disclosed that the nowdeceased woman and the suspect shared a common law relationship for the past six years and they have a three-year-old daughter. During the relationship, the woman was allegedly constantly abused by the suspect but never reported the matter to the police.
About three weeks ago, the couple had a misunderstanding and, as a result, they had an exchange of words and she was allegedly assaulted by the suspect. The suspect then moved out of the home.
At about 5 am on December 31st, Persaud was walking down the Parika access road heading towards the market when the suspect approached her on an electric scooter. A heated argument then ensued between them. The suspect came off of the scooter, picked up a piece of wood from the roadside and allegedly
dealt the victim one lash to her head causing her to fall to the ground. He then stood over her and allegedly dealt her several lashes to her face with the wood, causing her to bleed profusely.
The police say that the assault was recorded by a resident in the area. The suspect dropped the piece of wood and escaped on the scooter. He stopped a short distance away and hid in a clump of bushes.
The police were immediately summoned by residents in the area, and two
police patrols responded to the scene. The area where the suspect was hiding was identified and he was arrested by the ranks and escorted to the Parika Police Station, along with the suspected murder weapon.
Ranks picked up the victim, who was in and out of consciousness at the time, with visible wounds to her face and carried her to the Leonora Cottage Hospital. On arrival, the victim was rushed to the Emergency room, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Amanda’s sister, Devi Persaud told
Stabroek News that her sister and Lallaram separated one month ago because of his constant abusive behaviour. Since they separated Lallaram had been threatening Amanda, she said.
Amanda had not sought a restraining order because his family assured her that they would speak with him. However, he continued visits to their home and requested to see her and the child. Devi added that while whenever he did so the family would ask him to leave and not enter the yard and his response would always be threats.
At 4 am on December 31st, Lallaram went to the Parika home and was met by a brother who told him to leave. Amanda was at the time preparing to go to the market and Lallaram lingered until she left. Devi stated that she was asleep when her sister left home at about 5 am. While Amanda was walking down the street Lallaram approached her and she called Devi.
Devi explained that when she answered the phone call, Amanda was screaming as the man was beating her.
“When she call, we can hear he beating she and she screaming all the time. She scream till she couldn’t scream no more. We brother run out and when he (Lallaram) see he coming he go away”, Devi said.
Upon arrival at the scene a gaping wound was seen on Amanda’s forehead and she was gasping for breath.