Driver charged, remanded for acid attack; victim still hospitalised with visual impairment

Keron Daniels a 32-year-old driver of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, was on Tuesday charged and remanded to prison for allegedly orchestrating the acid attack that left two women injured, one of whom remains hospitalised and visually impaired.

Daniels appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

He faced charges of throwing a corrosive substance with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm to Jilicia Leitch and Nirmala Sukraj.

The incident occurred on September 3 at Middle and East Streets, Georgetown. Daniels was not required to plead to the charges.

During the hearing, Daniels’ lawyer applied for bail, arguing that his client posed no obvious danger to the public and would comply with any court-imposed conditions, including lodging his passport.

The lawyer also noted that there was no ongoing family feud or reason to protect Daniels from others.

However, the prosecution strongly opposed bail, citing the severity of the offence and the extensive injuries suffered by Leitch, who was identified as the primary target.

Leitch remains hospitalised and has suffered significant visual impairment, requiring further surgeries, including plastic surgery, the prosecutor told the court.

Sukraj, who was also injured in the attack, was present in court.  She mainly sustained burns to her face.

The magistrate adjourned the matter to September 17, as the court awaits CCTV footage of the attack to be presented.

Bail was refused, remanding Daniels to prison.

Police confirmed that Daniels is the mastermind of the attack and has confessed to his involvement.

Investigations revealed that he and Leitch had shared an intimate relationship that ended, but tensions continued, leading Daniels to allegedly enlist two men to “rough her up.” Investigators say the prime suspect suggested using acid, which ultimately led to the attack.

On the day of the incident, Daniels reportedly dropped his wife at Balwant Singh Hospital before picking up the masked men involved.

He allegedly supplied the getaway vehicle and even paid for a false license plate. While the prime suspect allegedly threw the acid on Leitch outside a city hospital, Sukraj was also injured in the attack. Police are still pursuing the prime suspect.