Bus driver freed of 2017 rape charge

Thirty-five-year-old Vishnu Persaud last week exited the courtroom of Justice Brassington Reynolds a free man after a 12-member High Court jury unanimously found him not guilty of a rape that was committed in 2017.
The man faced the indictment which detailed that on September 21, 2017, he was involved in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
Persaud’s trial had commenced before Justice Reynolds at the High Court earlier this month.
Reports indicate that the former accused entered the home of the victim unknowingly and committed the act while the child’s parents were not at home. He reportedly threatened to kill the child if she tried to raise an alarm.
He was apprehended a few days later and was positively identified by the victim. He was, nevertheless, released on bail.
Persaud, who is a minibus driver, was advised by Justice Reynolds to make good use of his life since he was given a second chance at it.
The former accused was represented by Attorney-at-Law Bernard DaSilva while the State’s case was presented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Seeta Bishundial.