Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday remanded to prison a mother of two who was allegedly driving the car which struck down and killed a 57-year-old man at Broad and Ketley streets two weeks ago.
Twenty-seven-year-old Ashley Pieters of Lot 33 Laing Street, Charlestown pleaded not guilty to the charges of dangerous driving and causing death by dangerous driving when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
She denied that she drove motor car PLL 732 in a dangerous manner in public view on June 12 at Broad and Ketley streets.
She also denied that because of her alleged dangerous driving she caused the death of John France called ‘Early Bird’.
Pieters’ lawyer Neil Boston applied for bail for her on the grounds that she posed no risk of flight, that she has sufficient ties to her Laing Street residence, and she is the mother of two, an eight-year-old and a two-year-old.
He also stated that Pieters is the sole provider of her family besides what is given to her by her reputed husband.
Boston further stated that if Pieters was granted bail she would return to court when required and there was no evidence that his client would attempt to pervert the court of justice by interfering with witnesses.
He went on to say that his client had never committed such an offence and if granted bail would not commit further offences.
He asked that the court exercise discretion towards his client by granting her bail in a “manageable” sum.
However, Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith objected to the bail application stating that Pieters is likely to be charged with being an unlicensed driver at the time of the accident, breaching the insurance and failing to report the accident within 24 hours.
She stated that another person, Anthony Paul, was also injured in the accident and had suffered a broken leg.
She also stated that after the accident Pieters took France to the hospital where she “abandoned” him.
Griffith said Pieters did not have a fixed place of abode since the police had made several checks at the Laing Street residence only to be told that she did not live there. She said Pieters had also told the police that she lived at another residence in Saffon Street.
She said that France and Paul were at the corner of the street when they were hit down.
She said “the defendant should not have taken the law into her own hands because she was not a licensed driver,” and should not have been driving.
Griffith then requested that the matter be transferred to Court Seven for today where the other charges would be read to Pieters.
Boston then stated that the case against his client should not be one filled with “emotions or sympathy” and driving without a licence or insurance although someone was killed in the accident were not lawful grounds for his bail application to be denied.
He said the principles applicable in such a case for bail to be denied would be if the prosecution had evidence to prove that Pieters would “thwart” the court of justice by interfering with the witnesses or by fleeing or that she was likely to commit similar offences if released.
He went on to say that Pieters was not the driver of the car at the time of the accident but she was a passenger in it.
He also stated that if the prosecution had really wanted to apprehend and charge his client then they should have used the media to put out a wanted bulletin for her.
“My client won’t run from the arms of the law,” added Boston.
He said his client was told by her reputed husband that the police wanted to speak to the passenger of the car and she should turn herself in to answer their questions.
He also said that going to someone’s residence and not finding them there did not mean that the person did not reside there. “Do the police expect that my client will sit down there and wait for them to come for her when she has two children to look after?” the defence counsel asked.
Griffith then stated that the owner of the car had given the police a statement saying that Pieters was indeed the driver at the time of the accident.
She said that the owner had told the police that he would usually park his car in front of Pieters’ home since he did not have parking space.
Griffith said the owner of the car said that on the day in question he left the car keys at Pieters’ home and went to the shop. He claimed that Pieters picked up the keys and drove the car without him being aware of it. He said that shortly after the accident, which was not far from where he was, he rushed to the scene and assisted France and Paul into another car which took them to the hospital.
Griffith lamented that Pieters had waited six days before reporting the matter and noted that even then it was her lawyer who took her to the police. She said that the law required her to report the matter within 24 hours. She noted that the matter was a serious one where a life was taken.
“She will flee if granted bail because she was in hiding all this time,” added Griffith.
Boston then stated that the seriousness of the matter had nothing to do with the court granting his client bail.
The magistrate subsequently ordered that Pieters be remanded to prison and the matter be transferred to Court Seven for today.
According to reports France, 57, of Henry Street, Charlestown, died while in surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital shortly after he was taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital. He had reportedly suffered broken ribs and massive internal injuries.
Meanwhile, Paul, 21, of Ketley Street, was also injured. His left leg was shattered in the accident and he had complained of a severe pain in the head. The car involved in the accident was lodged at a city police station.