NAKESH Persaud, called Romel and ‘Fat Boy’,  was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of driving dangerously in June last year, resulting in the deaths of Tabitha Latoya Bagot, 19; Juanita Malika Bagot, 16; and three-year-old Shamaine Cort, all of Philippi Farm, Corentyne.The decision was handed down by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s Court, following a probation report  and a plea in mitigation.

Senior Probation Officer Claudia Munroe, while noting that the 18-year-old Persaud had been remorseful, emphasised that a strong message must be sent over the wanton loss of lives on the country’s roadways.
In his plea in mitigation, Attorney-at-Law Chandra Sohan informed the court that his client had expressed deep regrets over the incident and initially attempted to compensate the victims’ relatives in the sum of $1.5M each, but the sum was not accepted.
After listening to the officers of the court, the magistrate ordered that the convict serve a four-year sentence on each charge.  Singh said he took into consideration that Persaud had spent six months as a remanded prisoner and an additional three weeks while awaiting sentencing.  However, the sentences will run concurrently.
The charges against Nakesh Persaud stemmed from an accident which occurred on Wednesday, June 11, 2014,  when he  allegedly struck down Delroy Park who

was cycling home from work at Kilmarnock Village. The driver reportedly failed to stop and sped away at which point he slammed into Tabitha Latoya Bagot, 19; Juanita Malika Bagot, 16; and three-year-old Shamaine Cort, all of Philippi Farm, Corentyne.
The sisters and their niece, had left home minutes before, having gone on an errand when they were hit by the speeding driver. They died instantaneously, succumbing to multiple fractures.  Following the collision, the driver then reportedly fled the scene and struck down Matthew McBean.
After the third collision, the driver failed to stop and   fled the scene. However, he was chased by public-spirited persons and subsequently cornered by the residents at Number 35 Village.

By Jeune Bailey Vankeric