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Block-maker’s death was a paid hit – police source

Estranged wife in custody, claims murdered man had planned to kill her

By Romila Boodram

Murdered: Nathan Persaud

In a surprising turn of events, detectives probing the death of 42-year-old Nathan Persaud, who was allegedly beaten to death on Tuesday last, have arrested his estranged wife.

The woman was taken into custody a few hours after Persaud’s body was found in his living room with a stab wound to the chest, and his head bashed in with a hammer.

While police cannot connect the dots into the block-maker’s death as yet, they claimed that his estranged partner is providing vital information which can very well lead to an early breakthrough in this case.

Kaieteur News was informed that Persaud and his wife were engaged in a bitter dispute over a property located at the entrance of Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The woman allegedly told detectives that while she had nothing to do with the block-maker’s death, she was informed that her former spouse had concocted a plot with two men to execute her.

The woman claimed that she however ignored the warnings.

Police said that they have gathered enough evidence which indicates that Persaud’s death was a paid hit.

It is believed that Persaud’s killer travelled to his Lot 66 Herstelling New Scheme, EBD home from the city. They are basing their theory on the fact that the killer spent a little over 20 minutes asking residents in the area for directions to Persaud’s home.

The suspect allegedly had his victim’s address written on a piece of paper.

“It’s very clear that he (suspect) didn’t know where he was going. I am certain he never met the man he killed,” a police source said.

There are also reports that a resident from the area, after receiving a description of the alleged killer, said that she was in a mini bus with an individual who fitted the killer’s description.

The suspect is reportedly fair in complexion, about six feet tall with afro-hair style. He was wearing a pair of blue pants and was carrying a blue haversack.

Yesterday, when this newspaper revisited the scene, an individual, claiming to have seen the suspected killer, said that she was in the area on Tuesday when the man approached her.

“He had a piece of paper and he asked me if I know where Lot 66 is located and I tell him that I am not from the area and he walk away.”

A blood stained hammer recovered at the crime scene

Kaieteur News was informed that two days before Persaud was killed, someone had telephoned him and threatened to end his life.

“The killer called him two days before and tell him ‘I am coming to kill you’,” a relative said.

She further explained that Persaud had confided in his sons.

“He told his sons that his life was in danger and that he has to leave the country.”

This newspaper was informed that Persaud was waiting on the court matter to end.

“He tell his sons that once the court matter finish, he will transfer his shares in their names and he will go and get his visa and leave the country because he is scared,” the relative said.

Persaud’s body was discovered around 09:45 hrs on Thursday by neighbours.

The back of his head was bashed in and detectives recovered a hammer, two knives and a piece of rock, all of which had blood stains.

Neighbours said that they heard the man screaming earlier in his house but they were too scared to enter his home since they were all females.

“We called the (Providence) police station but the lines were engaged. He was screaming on and off. When the screaming stopped, we went back inside,” a neighbour said.

Kaieteur News was told that about 10 minutes after the screaming stopped, a strange man was seen walking out of Persaud’s yard.

He allegedly smiled and waved at a neighbour.