‘Fish Teeth’ pleads guilty to killing ‘Tuff Chest’ @ Lusignan Prison

Devendra Persaud, also known as “Fish Teeth,” has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2019 killing of Samuel Lyttle, in a case heard before Justice Peter Hugh at the High Court in Demerara. The plea was entered yesterday, marking a pivotal moment in a case that has spanned more than four years.The incident, which occurred on July 26, 2019, saw Persaud fatally wounding Lyttle while both men were incarcerated at Lusignan Prison. Lyttle, 23, also known as “Tuff Chest,” was attacked in Holding Bay 4, where he was beaten with a piece of wood. He succumbed to his injuries less than 24 hours later at the Georgetown Public Hospital. An autopsy confirmed that his death resulted from multiple blunt force trauma.Lyttle had been in custody for just one week on a break-and-enter and larceny charge. Prison authorities, including then Acting Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels, had reported that the attack occurred around 2 p.m. while Lyttle was resting in a hammock. The court heard that an ongoing feud between the two men had escalated, with reports indicating that Lyttle had allegedly been bullying Persaud and other inmates.Persaud was initially charged with murder following the fatal assault. However, his guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter came as the court began considering the next steps in sentencing. Justice Hugh has ordered a probation report and statements detailing both mitigating and aggravating factors in the case. All agreed-upon facts will be presented during the next hearing, scheduled for October 17, 2024, when sentencing is expected to take place.