JUSTICE Navindra Singh and a mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes are hearing the Sharda murder case in which Michael Anthony Persaud, called “Mikey’, is on trial for the murder of his reputed wife, Maduri Padumdeo, called ‘Sharda’, of Lot 8 Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Witnesses have stated that the accused Mikey had, for some time, been living with Sharda in a common law union and that they have parented a two-year-old son. The accused and his paramour worked with Chandrapaul, called ‘Kaylee’, known as ‘Cane Juice Man’, selling cane juice at different locations.

In her opening address to the jury, Mrs. Judith Mursalin, appearing for the prosecution in association with Miss Narissa Leander and Mr. Michael Shahoud, promised to lead evidence to show how the 21-year-old woman lost her life. According to her, witnesses will testify that on the night of Wednesday, December 21, Chandrapaul and the couple had gone to a wake at Unity, East Coast, Demerara. They arrived at about 8.30 p.m., and did not leave until about 1am.

According to Chandrapaul, when he picked up Michael, Michael appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, and he had a bottle of red Banks (beer) in his hand. Along the way to drop the couple home, between Plaisance and Ogle, Chandrapaul’s Morris Oxford motor car developed a problem with its clutch, and so he drove to
Alpha Hotel between Ogle and Industry using one gear.

Arriving at about 1.30 to 2.am, Chandrapaul paid $3,000 for a room for 3 hours, and he claims that he slept on the mat while the couple slept on the bed. Chandrapaul claims that no sexual activity occurred. At about 4.30 am, they left the hotel. Chandrapaul managed to fix his car by filling the cyclinder with soap water.

He dropped the couple off at their home at about 4.45am. He spent about 30 minutes with the couple in their apartment, and they made arrangements to meet at the work place where they would sell cane juice at 8:30 am.

Chandrapaul admits that he and Padumdeo (Sharda) were having a relationship. Chandrapaul, in his statement to the police, recalled that Maduri once told him that Michael had beaten her, and she had showed him marks on her body.
When Chandrapaul advised her to make a report to the police station, she had told him that she had made several reports before.

At about 8am, Dataday Doodnauth, a neighbour of the couple, heard noises and Maduri’s voice in the yard. Persons went into the yard and saw the couple fighting. Maduri was shouting that the police should be called. Michael was seen to pull the girl into the house. Later, the naked girl was found dead, with Michael lying at her side.

Hearing of the case is continuing.