A well-timed police operation last evening led to the arrest of a man who was allegedly hired to kill Herstelling carpenter Nathan Persaud, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed, adding that the man has provided detectives with a detailed confession.
Blanhum told Stabroek News that it was acting on intelligence that police swooped down on a city location. After some time of surveillance, the suspect was arrested.
So far police have charged Persaud’s wife Beverly with the crime and with the arrest of the hitman she allegedly hired to carry out the brutal act, the Guyana Police Force is on target to wrap up yet another murder investigation.
Sources close to the case said that the man, who was previously identified as “Jason” wasted no time in providing investigators with all the gory details of the crime. He reportedly told investigators that Beverly had promised him $1.7 million as payment to kill Persaud. He has not received any of the money yet as the woman was planning to find someone to purchase a pool table that she owned. The arrangement was that the proceeds of the sale would be handed over to “Jason” followed by $100, 000 a week until the entire sum was paid. “Jason” apparently was perfect for the job as he was in desperate need to accumulate money to travel overseas to surprise his girlfriend.
Reports are that a bitter property dispute between Persaud and his wife was the main motive for the murder. Beverly occupied the disputed property which is located at Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara and operated a shop in the lower flat of the building. That case, which is before the High Court, was close to an end when Persaud was killed.
Initial reports are that Beverly met the suspect through a close female relative. During a conversation, the man related that he needed money to travel abroad to see his girlfriend. It was at this point that the woman reportedly made the proposition to him.
The suspect reportedly told investigators last night that on the day of the murder, he and the woman left her Diamond home in a minibus which was heading to the city. While in the vicinity of Herstelling, she pointed out the directions to the house where Persaud was staying and while he disembarked she remained in the bus which continued its journey to the city. The plan was that they would meet up at a location in the city.
According to the suspect, when he arrived at the house he met Persaud in the yard and he struck up the conversation. Not wanting to commit the crime in the yard for all to see, he told police that he then devised a plan to lure him into the house, asking to use his washroom.
The request was granted, the suspect said, and as soon as they entered, he picked up a clay brick which was nearby and hit Persaud in his head. It broke in half. He reportedly then took a knife and stabbed him to the neck. In a bid to ensure the task was complete he allegedly took a hammer and repeatedly struck Persaud to the head. So powerful were the blows that the hammer head broke off.
When convinced that Persaud was dead, he related to police, he left the house, and caught a bus to the city as planned.
Beverly, 46, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, charged with murdering her husband on September 10. She was not required to plead to the indictable charge and is on remand until October 13.
Persaud’s lifeless body was discovered at his home at about 10 am on September 10, with wounds to the head and lying in a pool of blood. A neighbour reported hearing screaming coming from the residence but did not think to investigate until he saw a man leave the compound minutes later. At this point, the neighbour alerted other residents, who proceeded to Persaud’s house, where they discovered his battered body.
A brick and a hammer suspected to have been used in the crime were found at the scene. The number ‘20’ was also found smeared on a refrigerator, corresponding with the number of times Persaud was hit, as was revealed by a post-mortem examination.
While Beverly was making her court appearance, Persaud’s funeral service was in progress.
