– hunt on for two other dangerous prisoners who escaped from court lockups

THE Guyana Police Force last night confirmed that escaped prisoner, 28-year-old Vickram Persaud called ‘Lil John’ was shot dead “during an armed confrontation with the police” at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice.The Police said Persaud, of Doctor Dam in La Grange on the West Bank of Demerara, had earlier yesterday escaped from the lock-ups at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where he was waiting to attend Court.

The Police said an unlicensed .38 revolver has been recovered, while Persaud’s body is at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) mortuary.

Persaud was charged with the murder of Police Tactical Services Unit (TSU) rank, Constable Michael Cumberbatch, in September last year.

The two other prisoners still at large are 26-year-old Keron Cummings, of Sophia; and 20-year-old Randolph Marks, of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

BRAZEN ESCAPE
Earlier yesterday, it was chaos at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts after it was discovered that four notorious convicts who had shown up for court and were being held in the courts’ holding area, had broken their way out of the facility and had fled the courts’ premises
The four that escaped were Vickram Persaud, Keron Cummings, Randolph Marks and Steve Bacchus.

Aided by public-spirited citizens, the police chased the fleeing men, but managed to recapture only murder accused Steve Bacchus on Hadfield Street, from where he was reportedly attempting to enter Leopold Street to seek refuge.

Police have reportedly visited the respective homes of the two fugitives still on the run and have informed their relatives of the development.

The lawmen have also reportedly encouraged the men’s relatives to turn them over to the police if they should ever show up there.

Vickram Persaud and Steve Bacchus were each charged for murder; Keron Cummings was charged for robbery under arms, and Randolph Marks was charged with murder and robbery under arms.

Anyone who has information that may lead to the arrest of Keron Cummings and Randolph Marks is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 227-1149, 225-6941 to 3, 225-2227, 226-7065, 911 or the nearest police station. (Asif Hakim and Leroy Smith)