The preliminary inquiry into the murder of Mahaica accountant Chormanie Tulsie came to an end on Tuesday after a magistrate upheld a no-case submission, resulting in the discharge of the accused, 67-year-old farmer and businessman Khemraj Persaud, also known as “Pandit.”
The ruling was handed down by Principal Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court, bringing the case against Persaud to a close.
He had been charged with murdering Tulsie between November 21 and 22, 2023, at Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
Persaud was represented by Dr. Dexter Todd, along with attorneys Dexter Smart of Dr. Todd and Associates Law Firm, Glenn Hanoman, and Everton Singh-Lammy.
The charge arose from the discovery of Tulsie’s body on the morning of November 22, 2023. The 38-year-old mother was found dead in the lower flat of her Unity, Mahaica home.
Investigations indicated that the incident occurred sometime between 19:30 hours on November 21 and 08:00 hours the following day.
At about 08:00 hours, Tulsie was discovered lying on the ground with a piece of cloth stuffed into her mouth and a knife embedded in the centre of her throat. She was dressed in a multi-coloured nightdress.
Her body was transported to the Dr. C.C. Nicholson Memorial Hospital at Nabacalis, where she was officially pronounced dead.
As part of the investigation, detectives canvassed the surrounding area for CCTV footage and questioned several individuals.
However, at the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, the defence argued that there was no evidence upon which Persaud, also of Unity, Mahaica, could be called upon to answer.
The court agreed with that submission, leading to Persaud’s discharge.
