Former Sheriff Security officer remanded for seawall murder

A former security officer, who was attached to the Sheriff Security Service, was on Friday remanded to prison after being charged with the murder of a man during an incident at the Georgetown Seawall earlier this month.
The accused, 25-year-old Akeem Blackman of Jonestown, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the charge was formally read to him.
Blackman was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleges that on April 4, at Seawall Road, Kingston, Georgetown, he unlawfully caused the death of Balram Persaud.
According to the brief facts presented by the prosecution, on the day of the incident, Blackman and Persaud were engaged in an altercation in the vicinity of the bandstand area at the Kingston Seawall. During the confrontation, Blackman allegedly dealt Persaud several blows to his head, resulting in serious injuries.
Following the altercation, Persaud was picked up and transported to a medical facility for treatment. However, despite receiving medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries while still under care.
While the prosecution indicated that it is alleged that an altercation led to the fatal injuries, the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation were not disclosed during the court proceeding. No further details were given about what might have triggered the incident.
After hearing the facts, Magistrate Azore ordered that Blackman be remanded to prison pending the continuation of the matter. His next court appearance is set for June 6, 2025, when the case will come up again for report.
Meanwhile, the police have indicated that investigations into the incident are ongoing as they work to complete the case file.