Mother accused of strangling daughter to death slapped with murder charge

The 26-year-old woman accused of killing her seven-year-old daughter has been slapped with a murder charge and remanded to prison after a court was told that a psychiatric evaluation found her fit to stand trial. Sarah Elizabeth Shivpersaud appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Michelle Matthias, where the murder charge was read to her. During the hearing, Prosecutor Sergeant Colin Clark informed the court that a psychiatric assessment had been conducted on the accused. According to the prosecution, the doctor who carried out the evaluation concluded that Shivpersaud is capable of standing trial.

The court requested a copy of the evaluation report, which was subsequently handed over. Shivpersaud, who was unrepresented, stood in the dock as the charge was read. She nodded when the name of her deceased daughter was pronounced by the Magistrate. She later exited the courtroom with a slight limp, believed to be as a result of the self-inflicted wounds to her feet. She was escorted through the court compound and taken to the New Amsterdam Prison. Shivpersaud’s mother was present in court. The case has since been transferred to the Albion Magistrate’s Court and adjourned to May 12. The charge stems from an incident on April 5 at Fyrish, Corentyne, during which it is alleged that Shivpersaud attempted to kill her one-year-old son. The incident resulted in the death of seven-year-old Isabella Dabadial.
According to initial police reports, the woman allegedly suffocated the child and later attempted to harm the younger child, but was unsuccessful. Following the incident, she reportedly attempted to take her own life and was subsequently hospitalised. She was later discharged from the hospital and taken into police custody.
It was reported that the woman had claimed that she was experiencing emotional distress after her husband left the home several days prior and refused to return. She is also reportedly said to have told investigators that she had nothing to eat on the morning of the incident and became overwhelmed.
Prior to committing the act, she reportedly posted a photo of herself and the two children on social media, seeking forgiveness for what she was about to do. After allegedly committing the act, Shivpersaud attempted to take her own life.