For a second time, the prosecution has been unable to produce the file for Navin Prashad who is before the court on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
The 21-year-old who resides at 303 Commerce Street, Lamaha Gardens is accused of driving his motor pick-up, GJJ 6185, in a dangerous manner to the public on November 26 last on Carifesta Avenue, George-town, thereby causing the death of University of Guyana student Rajendra Jailall.
Prashad made his third appearance in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday, closely guarded by two men who came with him. When the case was called, Prosecutor Desrie Fowler told Traffic Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle that she was not in possession of the file.
Attorney-at-law Raphael Trotman who was holding for Prashad’s lawyer K Juman Yassin said that if the prosecution is not in possession of the file they would normally say that it is at the police station or with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
He said that this is a very serious offence and he can’t understand why the DPP, who he assumes has the file, would be holding it so long.
When asked by the magistrate where the file was, Fowler told the court that she didn’t know and would enquire when she gets back to office.
According to the prosecutor she never saw the file.
Stabroek News understands that when the case was called in December last year the prosecutor had told the court that no file had been brought.
Around 7.30 pm on November 26 Talesh Yhuan, 28, was driving along Carifesta Avenue with some friends including Jailall of 48 Third Street, Cummings Lodge and Thakoor Persaud when a dark-coloured Ford 4×4 coming in the opposite direction reportedly ran into them. The car that the young men were travelling in flipped several times as a result of the impact and crashed into a bridge outside GT&T’s earth station.
Jailall, Yhuan and Persaud were rushed to the Georgetown Hospital about 15 minutes later but Jailall was already dead. His two friends were treated and admitted to the medical institution. They spent sometime in hospital before being discharged.
Yhuan who was the driver of the car sustained a broken leg and several cuts about his face and chest. Persaud sustained minor injuries.
Prashad made an appearance in court several days after the accident and was told he could not plead to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan released him on $100,000 bail.
When he made his appearance on that occasion he was wearing a neck brace and was not passed through the chute as is customary. After his bail was paid he left the courtroom via the steps.
Prashad will return to court on Monday.
