East St acid attack: Victim now visually impaired as Magistrate grants suspect bail

A Georgetown businessman charged for attacking using acid on September 3 and leaving a woman visually impaired was granted $500,000 bail on Wednesday after a delay in producing critical CCTV footage to the court.
The case was recalled before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, one day after 32-year-old Keron Mervin Daniels of Uitvlugt Pasture, East Bank Essequibo, was remanded.
On Tuesday, prosecutors had strongly objected to bail, citing CCTV footage capturing Daniels in the act and highlighting the severe injuries sustained by 27-year-old victim Genesis Leitch.
When the case returned on Wednesday, the prosecution informed the court that although the CCTV recording had been obtained, it was not available in time for the hearing. In those circumstances, Magistrate McGusty granted Daniels bail of $500,000. He is scheduled to return to court on October 22.
Daniels faces two counts of throwing a corrosive substance with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The charges relate to an attack in which Leitch sustained severe burns to her face, stomach, and hand, leaving her visually impaired. Another woman, 20-year-old Nirmala Sukraj of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, received minor burns.
Police reported that the women were attacked after leaving Balwant Singh Hospital around 15:30h. A white motorcar pulled alongside them, and a passenger flung a bottle filled with a corrosive liquid before fleeing. Investigators believe the attack stemmed from a short-lived relationship between Daniels and Leitch, which ended on bitter terms earlier this year.
In a statement following the bail decision, the Guyana Police Force expressed grave disappointment. They noted that Daniels had provided a video confession and that Leitch, still hospitalised, had pleaded for justice from her bed.
“According to the medical officials, the victim has lost sight in one of her eyes, and her face is severely disfigured. Nevertheless, the Magistrate still granted bail in the sum of $500,000,” the statement read.
The Police Force also highlighted concerns about the high likelihood of repeat offences, especially when the accused continues to have ready access to the victim. They noted that despite the heavy prevalence of violence against women in Guyana, Magistrates often fail to take this crucial factor into account when granting bail.
“Notwithstanding these setbacks, the Guyana Police Force pledges to continue to make every possible effort in reducing, if not wholly eradicating, these heinous acts of violence being committed so wantonly against the women in our society,” the statement concluded.