The man accused of killing his 19-year-old wife in 2011 was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in prison after confessing to the act.
The charge against Michael Anthony Persaud alleged that he, on December 23, 2011, murdered Maduri Padumdeo at Lot 8 North Sophia. Although charged with murder, Persaud yesterday pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
When the matter was called yesterday before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Georgetown, Persaud confessed to killing his wife. In November 2014, Persaud was sentenced to 83 years in prison for the murder after he was found guilty by a 12-member jury. He then appealed the conviction and sentence arguing that the trial judge committed a number of errors which resulted in a miscarriage of justice and that the sentence imposed was too harsh. The conviction was then overturned and a new trial was ordered.
Facts in relation to the matter, stated that on the day in question, Padumdeo’s nude body was discovered in the bedroom of the North Sophia home with a wire wrapped around her neck as Persaud lay beside her.
Persaud when asked by the judge if he had anything to say, told the court that on the night in question he could not remember what exactly transpired. He then stated that he has a 10-year-old son and following the incident it has been hard on him. An emotional Persaud then apologised for what happened while stating that he will ask God, every year of his life, to help him get over what took place.
His attorney, Glen Hanoman, told the court, during his plea for mitigation, that his client is remorseful. The attorney then stated that his client has spent a long time in prison and noted that the court is in a great position to assess whether or not rehabilitation is possible. He noted that he would refer to the case as a triangle, but however, hesitated to call it a ‘love triangle’. He then related to the court that his client was forced to drop out of school at the age of 13, but managed to continue his education while in prison. Hanoman mentioned that while in prison, his client had made strides to be rehabilitated and took part in a number of activities, even winning an essay writing competition in 2015 and completing a six-week domestic violence programme.
According to the attorney, what should be considered, is the fact that his client is a young first offender and as such he believes the correct approach would be to determine how the accused could be subjected to rehabilitation.
In response, state representative, prosecutor Tuana Hardy, told the court that the main themes present are domestic violence and alcoholism. The prosecutor noted that the court should consider the fact that the deceased was just 19-years-old at the time and was the only child for her mother. She stated that it should be noted that the murder left a son without a mother and mother without her only daughter.
The deceased’s mother, during the sentencing hearing took the stand and told the court that she worked hard as a single parent to raise her daughter, “I just want justice for myself and for the public” the mother said. A prison officer who prepared a report on Persaud’s time in prison, presented the report to the court which detailed the programmes that he took part in and even his behaviour during his time already served.
As a result, prior to handing down the sentence, Justice Kissoon stated that he considered the fact that at the time of the commission of the offence, the accused was very young. He further considered the fact that he has no prior conviction and the fact that he expressed his remorse. The judge further noted that he also considered both the mitigating and aggravating factors. As such, Justice Kissoon started the sentence at 25 years and subsequently deducted one third, which brought the sentence to 16 years and six months. A further sum was deducted as the judge ordered that time spent behind bars should be subtracted by prison officials. He subsequently sentenced Persaud to 15 years and six months.
