A husband and wife duo, who in a drunken stupor bludgeoned a relative to death, was ordered to serve a total of 14 years imprisonment after they confessed to the act before Justice Claudette La Bennett at the Berbice Assizes.
Khanlall Daljit, also known as ‘Kayan,’ 48, and Mahani Persaud, called ‘Sailor,’ 52, of Number 4 Settlement, Blairmont, West Bank Berbice, were originally indicted for the murder of Sukdeo Persaud called ‘Dudoo Boy,’ but pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter which was accepted by the state.
Relating the facts to the Judge, State Counsel Ganesh Hira said on Christmas Day in 2006, the couple was consuming alcohol when Daljit left for bed shortly after 1 pm. His common law wife, Persaud, commenced the household chores when her brother, ‘Dudoo Boy,’ visited and made inquiries for rum. After telling him that there were no alcoholic beverages available, an argument ensued between the siblings and during the brawl the caller pushed his older sister off the stairs.
Armed with a cutlass, Persaud broadsided her brother while waking her sleeping husband, who armed himself with a crowbar and hit his brother-in-law on the head.
Hira said Sukdeo Persaud got up and walked a short distance then fell, after which he was hit again in the head by Daljit.
In her deposition, Ratwattie Maliman, wife of the deceased and an eyewitness to the crime, related that the argument stemmed from a comment made by her sister in law. According to the document, Persaud lost consciousness in Maliman’s arms while being transported to the Fort Wellington Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. In a post-mortem report prepared by Dr V Brijmohan, cause of death was given as cerebral haemorrhage.
In his plea of mitigation, the couple’s lawyer Johaswir Misir told the court that Daljit awoke from his drunken stupor and grabbed anything available, which unfortunately was a crowbar. However, the lawyer said the man has spent just over two years reflecting on the sad and cursed day. With respect to Persaud, Misir added that she has mothered three grown children and had spent her years productively. However, he urged the court to note that the acts were not ones of malice or vindictiveness but just drunkenness. “They throw themselves to the mercy of this honourable court please extend mercy,” he said.
But imposing the sentence Justice Claudette La Bennett told the prisoners that the first lash with the crow bar could not kill ‘Dudoo Boy.’ She blamed the male prisoner for not acting rationally because of alcohol, but noted that a life was lost and justice must be served. As a result, a nine-year sentence was imposed on Daljit while his wife Mahani, will have to serve five years.
