Bush Lot pastor died from multiple stabs – post-mortem

A post-mortem examination conducted on the remains of Motilall Persaud called ‘Brother Martin’, a pastor of Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice, proved that he died from multiple incised wounds.

Persaud was attacked and killed by two masked men who pounced on him around 10:15 pm on Saturday as he was about to open his door to enter his house. He had just left his internet café which he operated in the nearby Armadale Village.

Motilall Persaud

The killing also came one week after he was elected to serve as assistant pastor at the Bush Lot Assemblies of God church.

The current pastor is away on vacation overseas and Persaud was in constant contact with him from his internet café, according to her.

Persaud, who was convicted for killing his wife in the 1980s served just over 10 years in a US prison.

A close relative told Stabroek News yesterday that “it was not like he never admitted what he did. He never tried to hide his past and while he was in prison he embraced Jesus and never turned back.”

The relative pointed out that while in prison Persaud used his experience to “counsel people and told them how to handle themselves in difficult circumstances.”

According to her, the man uplifted himself spiritually and academically in prison and even gained an associate degree.

She recalled that the first night after returning to Guyana he “went to look for a church. He took steps to make his life a model to prevent persons from falling into what he had fallen into.”

The relative did not wish to go into details about what led him to commit the offence because after-all, “a life was lost.” She also wanted to put the matter “to rest.”

The assailants dealt him a slash to his foot and followed him to his brother-in-law’s yard next door where he ran to seek cover and continued the attack.

They also stabbed him several times about his body.

Relatives said he succumbed to his wounds as they were trying to locate transportation to take him to the hospital.

Persaud’s attackers stole his cell phone and a small amount of cash from his pocket.

A set of keys for his house, car and business place which was missing was later found at the spot where the body was.

But relatives are convinced that robbery was not the motive and that the killing was “premeditated.”