By Samantha Alleyne
Four men are in police custody following the brutal rape and murder of an 18-year-old Mahaicony girl on Sunday last.
Stabroek News
August 25, 2001
The partly naked and mutilated body of Anita Persaud was found floating in a trench in front of her Lot 5 Good Faith, Mahaicony home on Tuesday morning, one day after she was reported missing.
Recounting the details leading up to their daughter's gruesome death, Ramesh and Debbie Persaud yesterday told Stabroek News that the last time she was seen alive was about 7:00 pm on Sunday when she left home to meet her mother at a wedding house a few yards away.
The two said that the girl, who had numerous pen friends, had attended the wedding of one of her friends at Mahaica earlier on Sunday and on returning home, decided to visit another wedding house where her mother was.
Ramesh said that he was examining a car engine when he saw his daughter leaving the yard. He said she did not tell him where she was going as she knew he might have prevented her from leaving. But he figured she was going to meet her mother. He said he later learned that on her way home from Mahaica she had enquired whether her mother was at the wedding house and had promised to return.
About one hour after the young woman had left her home her mother returned and enquired about her whereabouts and was surprised to hear that she had left to meet her. The woman said that she was not too worried because she assumed her daughter might have visited another wedding house on the main road where most of her friends were. She said she went to bed but when she awoke the following morning she discovered that her daughter had not returned home.
The parents said that they asked the neighbours if they had seen the young woman, but no one had. A search of the area revealed her sandals and the top she was wearing. The father said that when she left home she was wearing an open green shirt and an inner black top. The green top was found along with the sandals not far from her home.
Debbie said that after the sandals and top were found she reported her daughter missing to the police and they continued the search. On Tuesday morning the young woman's elder brother was on his way out to search for his sister once again, when he saw a body floating in the trench. It was later identified as his sister.
The mother said that her daughter's body was clad only in the black tank top, while the cargo pants she had been wearing when she left the house was wrapped around her neck. She said that the cord from the pants was tied around the girl's neck, and they suspected it was used to strangle her. A watch and a chain she had been wearing, were found in the pants pocket.
The parents disclosed that the bone of their daughter's left elbow was protruding, indicating that it had been broken and she also had several gashes in her palms. The grieving parents said that from the marks of violence, their daughter had unsuccessfully fought for her life. They were told that she was raped.
They added that the four men arrested by the police were seen at the wedding house on the Saturday night and they had interfered with the young woman. The parents said that according to reports the men were returning to the wedding on Sunday, when they saw Anita turning the corner and forced her into the vehicle they were in.
Anita was laid to rest on Thursday in a freshly built tomb in the back yard of the place she once called home.
Her parents described her as "very willing child" who was always polite and helpful. They said she loved music and writing to her pen friends.