ECD mason charged for soldier’s murder

A Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) mason was charged on Monday with the capital offence of murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank at a wedding house. Nizam Persaud, 28, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on March 14 at Phase 2 Good Hope, ECD, he murdered GDF Corporal, 28-year-old Chaves Mangal of Enterprise Garden, ECD. He was remanded until May 13.
Police Headquarters had reported that Corporal Mangal was fatally stabbed while attending his younger sister’s wedding at Phase 2 Good Hope, ECD.
Police said that the soldier was reportedly stabbed to death by four men who were armed with knives and cutlasses. Based on reports, Corporal Mangal had attended the wedding ceremony, along with the men, who were all there imbibing.
During the celebration, the Disc Jockey (DJ) reportedly stopped the music, thus resulting, in one of the men approaching him to enquire about his reasons for doing so. Other celebrants also gathered at the DJ’s booth.
At that time, one of the men attempted to assault the DJ, resulting in the soldier intervening. In retaliation, he whipped out a knife and stabbed Corporal Mangal to his upper chest. In addition, another person who was trying to make peace was also stabbed to the left hand, and bottles were also hurled at him.
Not satisfied, the four men armed themselves with glass bottles and threw them at the building before fleeing. Mangal, who lost consciousness, was picked up and taken to the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital where he died while receiving treatment.
Nevertheless, the 24-year-old deejay subsequently exited the yard and was confronted by one of the men who dealt him one chop to his left hand before relieving him of a laptop computer. Police said that one of the perpetrators was arrested about five houses away from where the incident took place.
Upon his arrest, a search was conducted on his person during which two knives and a pair of scissors were found in the waist of his pants. He told the Police ranks that he was attacked at the wedding house. He and the DJ were taken for treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Police are continuing their investigations. (G1)