Three charged with Canje hospital murder
Three men were yesterday remanded to prison after they were charged with murder in the fatal beating of Dinesh Persaud at the National Psychiatric Hospital last month.
Curtis Robertson, 31, of Lot 18 Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice; Kelson Cadogan, 29, of Lot 572 Canvas City, Linden; and Mark Sampson, 36, of Lot 16 Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam yesterday appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Renita Singh where the charge of murder was jointly read to them.
It is alleged that on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at the National Psychiatric Hospital, they murdered Persaud, 32, of Bath
Settlement, West Coast Berbice.
The unrepresented men were not required to plead to the indictable charge and were remanded to prison.
They will return to court on June, 12, for report.
Police in a brief statement had said that Persaud was admitted as a patient at the hospital on April 17 and was reportedly attacked by other patients on April, 19. An autopsy performed on the body revealed that Persaud died from a fractured skull.
The deceased’s father, Davindra Persaud, 58, had told investigators that his son along with his mother visited the private psychiatric clinic as he normally would on Monday. However, the doctor admitted him to the national mental health institution.
The elder Persaud related to reporters that his son would receive treatment at the hospital at intervals. He explained that whenever he consumed alcohol, he suffered from seizures and would have to receive treatment.
He recalled that he had
spoken with his son on April 18 when he delivered lunch and all seemed well. However, the next day, he received a call from the social worker at the hospital and was informed that his son had been transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.
The family rushed to the
health facility where they were told by a doctor that he had died.
The post-mortem examination revealed that the younger Persaud died from a fractured skull, and his body bore multiple marks of violence.
The father said that when he contacted the hospital
administration, he was only told that the matter was in the hands of the police.
Whilst calling for justice, the father had also questioned the whereabouts of the staff at the facility at the time his son came under attack.