An 18-year-old woman accused of causing the death of Walter Wilson by dangerous driving was yesterday not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to her by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on May 10 at Mc Doom, Prascilla Jagnandan of 211 Youth Place, South Ruimveldt Gardens drove motor car PKK 7639 in a dangerous manner, thereby causing the death of 66-year-old Walter Wilson of Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden.
Jagnandan was additionally charged with two counts of breach of condition of a provisional licence and one charge of breach of insurance to which she pleaded not guilty.
On May 9 at Mc Doom, Jagnandan allegedly drove motor car PKK 7639 with only a provisional licence and failed to be with an experienced driver. On the same day also, the accused was alleged to have driven the said vehicle and failed to visibly display two learner Ls, one on the front and one on the rear of motor car PKK 7639. Allegedly also, the defendant on May 9 drove motor car PKK 7639 without insurance for third party risk.
Jagnandan’s stepfather, 40-year-old Olatocumbo Sam, was charged with the offence of permitting a breach of insurance. It is alleged that on May 9 at Mc Doom, Sam, also of 211 Youth Place, South Ruimveldt Gardens, being the registered owner of motor car PKK 7639, permitted Prascilla Jagnandan to drive the said car without insurance for third party risk.
Attorney-at-Law Glenn Hanoman before making bail applications for his clients stressed that Jagnandan was with an experienced and licensed driver at the time of the accident. “My Worship, my younger client was with an experienced, licensed driver and she did not run away from the scene as the police would posit. She along with the licenced driver of their own volition took Wilson to the hospital.” The attorney added that it was not his client who was at fault but rather the deceased, as he exercised bad judgement in attempting to cross the road.
Hanoman then made an application for bail to be granted his clients in reasonable sums on the grounds that they posed no risk of flight.
Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith objected to Jagnandan being granted bail with respect to the indictable charge on the grounds that she fled the scene after the accident had occurred and could not be located until hours after. According to Griffith, though the accused is young, “we just can’t let it go like that because others may take such an offence lightly. She has to face the brunt of the law, more so since accidents are occurring too often on our roadways.” Griffith told the court that it was another person who had taken Wilson to the hospital and not Jagnandan.
The prosecutor said also that the deceased was attempting to cross the road when he was hit by the car Jagnandan was driving. She said further that he was then taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The first year University of Guyana student was subsequently placed on bail to the tune of $550,000; $400,000 for the indictable charge and $50,000 for the other three charges. Meanwhile, Sam was placed on bail in the sum $75,000. Their matters were transferred to Court Seven for May 22.