Electrocution of 8-yr-old Mark Persaud…
– accused granted bail, family of deceased ‘outraged’
FACING a manslaughter charge, Cleon Dexter Williams, of 74 Annandale Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Hemant Ramdhani at the Vigilance Court yesterday.
Williams was taken into police custody following the death of eight-year-old old Mark Persaud, who was electrocuted by a live wire while fishing with his cousin in a canal near his home in Annandale on Sunday last.
According to eyewitnesses, the boy was coming out of the canal when he grabbed the electrical wires which were illegally connected from a power pole to Mr. Williams’ house.
The courtroom was filled with the family members of the late Mark Persaud as the charges were read to Williams who was subsequently granted bail in the sum of $200,000.
Expressing outrage at the fact that the accused was granted bail, Mark’s grieving mother, Mrs. Carol Persaud said, “I am not pleased, this is not fair I work so hard to mind my child and there is no justice.”
Mrs. Persaud said that she is struggling to cope with the loss of her son, who, she said, was the joy of her household.
She also revealed that she was approached by relatives of Mr. Williams who expressed condolences and offered apologies on behalf of the accused.
“This is the first time they approach me since my son was killed,” she admitted.
Fighting tears the young man’s aunt, Jennifer August stated that they are willing to hire an attorney to fight the case.
She said, “We need justice for our little Mark, one day he was playing and telling jokes and the next moment he was dead.”
The post mortem performed on Mark revealed that he died as a result of being electrocuted.
Shortly after bail was granted, Mr. Williams was released from police custody, accompanied by his two brothers and his wife and he is expected to return to the Vigilance Court on the 15th October for the Preliminary Inquiry.
Mark Persaud was laid to rest, yesterday, at the cemetery at Buxton Middle Walk, where his family and friends said their final farewells.