As the police continue to investigate the murder of 76-year-old retired police officer Cyril Persaud, whose decomposed body was found floating in a canal at D’Urban Backlands last Sunday, two persons who were recently held, including his adopted son, have been released.
When contacted for an update, a police source close to the investigation told this newspaper that Persaud’s adopted son, who is a 35-year-old mechanic, and his 53-year-old mother, were released from custody as there was not sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
This newspaper was also informed that surveillance footage that was reviewed showed that Persaud was last seen leaving his house alone.
The body of Persaud, a resident of Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara, was discovered by residents of D’Urban Backlands. Clothing along with an Old Age pension book with Persaud’s name were found just a few feet away from where the body was discovered.
An autopsy showed that Persaud died from brain haemorrhage as a result of blunt trauma to the head compounded by compression injuries to his neck. He also sustained blunt trauma to the abdomen.
Persaud’s younger brother, Peter Brahmdeo, said he last saw his brother about three months ago.
He said he made a report to the police after Persaud’s adopted son told him that he had not returned home.
Brahmdeo said when he identified Persaud, he noticed that his face was swollen and said he suspected there was foul play. “It appears to me that he was beaten and had to be taken out of that district ’cause normally he goes with his bicycle but he leave his bicycle home and he walked so he could not have gone far from his home. Somebody had to take him there,” Brahmdeo added.
Persaud was a former member of the police force’s mounted branch.
