MICHAEL Anthony Persaud was on Tuesday given a second chance to prove his innocence in the murder of his 19-year-old wife for which he was convicted.

The Court of Appeal ordered that Persaud’s 83-year sentence be set aside and a new trial at the High Court be initiated.

The now 29-year-old man was found guilty in November 2014, of murdering his wife Maduri Padumdeo, called ‘Sharda’, at their Sophia home on December 23, 2011.

According to reports, the body of Sharda was discovered naked in the bedroom of her 10×10 apartment in Sophia, with a black and white wire wrapped around her neck.
It was also reported that the day before the young woman’s body was discovered, neighbours saw Persaud dragging her into the apartment, while she was screaming for someone to call the police.

However, during his trial, Persaud held out that he loves his wife and did not kill her. But the 12-member jury returned with a unanimous guilty verdict, and Justice Navindra Singh imposed the 83-year sentence. The sentence and conviction were appealed through Persaud’s counsel, Glen Hanoman.

The sentence and conviction was appealed through Persaud’s counsel, Glen Hanoman, who argued that both were improperly served as a fair trial was not granted.

The accused had also said that the sentence was severe and that Justice Singh denied him the opportunity of having a probation report prepared. Additionally, the accused said that we was not granted ample time to secure a lawyer to fight his case properly.

After arguing on these grounds, amongst others, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, ordered that the conviction and sentence be set aside.