Months after Sangeeta Persaud’s death, the Ministry of Home Affairs has released the findings of a second autopsy which found that she died from acute meningitis.
Persaud, 14, of Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara died on March 28. It had been alleged that she was beaten during an exorcism and died as a result. On April 24, after much controversy about how the child had died, Persaud’s body was exhumed by Trinidad based Forensic Anatomic Pathologist Dr. Valery Alexandrov.
Late last night, in a press release, the ministry quoted a summary of Alexandrov’s opinion on the child’s cause of death: “From the above-mentioned information and appearances I am of the opinion that Sangeeta Persaud, a 14-year-old female died of acute inflammation of brain coverings-acute meningitis.” Further, he said “This conclusion is substantiated by the microscopic examination of the brain which showed acute inflammation with a presence of the polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the cells which are first-line body response at any acute inflammatory process. The most common micro-organisms causing acute meningitis in this particular case could not be identified microscopically because of advanced tissue decomposition. The autopsy did not reveal any evidence of trauma of any kind or poisoning – the fact, that undoubtedly and with 100 percent confidence rules out unnatural causes of death. In consideration of the circumstances surrounding this death, autopsy and microscopic findings that the manner of death is NATURAL with the cause of death being natural disease – acute meningitis (brain coverings inflammation).”
The Ministry said it hoped the findings would put the case into “proper perspective,” and that other activities to flow as a result of the revelation would be done in an enlightened and peaceful manner. Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee visited the relatives of the girl on Monday and provided the autopsy results. “We at the Ministry anticipate that the relatives of the deceased will recover from this recent tragedy sufficiently enough to make them stronger, thus enabling them to proceed with their normal lives,” the release said.
Chaitranie Ramotar, the girl’s grandmother, has maintained that Sangeeta was subjected to a physical ritual, which included prodding, squeezing and palming, on March 28, hours before she died in hospital. Pastor Ewert Cummings and Pastor Gulab have denied there were any beatings during the ‘exorcism,’ which they have described as being prayers. The girl’s mother, who was also present at the ceremony, has also denied any physical treatment.
