East La Penitence man charged with attempted murder

-after Lambert’s Enterprise robbery

Arone Persaud, who allegedly shot a former workmate during a robbery at Lambert’s Enterprise on Saturday, was yesterday remanded to prison on a charge of attempted murder.

Persaud, 22, of East La Penitence, was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge when he was arraigned yesterday before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that on April 24, at Charlotte Street, with intent to commit murder, Persaud discharged a round from a loaded firearm which hit Richard Barton in the region of his heart. Persaud appeared at the court on crutches, with both his legs in casts. His lawyer, Nigel Hughes, said Persaud and Barton are both employees of Lambert’s Enterprise. According to him, Persaud was on sick-leave at the time but went to the office to collect his ID Card, which he left there.

Hughes said Persaud was severely injured during the incident and both of his legs were broken. He noted that if incarcerated, his client would not be able to properly take care of himself. However, Prosecutor Stephen Telford objected to bail, stating that Barton is currently an unconscious patient of the High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He noted that according to the information gathered by the police, Persaud had gone to the business place on the day in question to rob it. Barton, Telford added, was there at the time and he tried to stop Persaud. He was shot in the process.

Telford also charged that Persaud broke his legs while he was trying to escape. He said that Persaud ran into a building that was under-construction and jumped from it onto the road, breaking his legs.

The magistrate refused Persaud bail and ordered that he return to court on April 30.