Alvin Goodridge, a food vendor of Lethem, was killed around 3 pm on Friday last when he was struck down by a woman who was driving Toyota Tundra at a very fast rate. According to reports, the man was on his bicycle on the opposite side of the road, when the woman overtook a vehicle and slammed into him, killing him on the spot.
Yesterday residents and relatives of the man said they were very angry that in less than 24 hours the woman was allowed to drive out of the Lethem Police Station compound with the vehicle.
“How can this be? She just killed someone and did not even spend 72 hours in lock-ups,” one resident said yesterday as he called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Relatives of the man yesterday said they want a thorough investigation and called for the woman to be placed before the courts.
They believe the woman was let go because she is the daughter of a prominent businessman in the area and reported that she was released on the instructions of Commander of E&F, Assis-tant Commissioner David Ramnarine who was in the area at the time.
Contacted yesterday Ramnarine denied that he had instructed that the woman be released but added that even if he did so it would have been in keeping with the law. He said the woman was released on $20,000 station bail, pointing out that it was a bailable offence
“There is nothing illegal about putting a person on bail,” Ramnarine said and when it was pointed out that the woman had just killed someone he said the matter was under investigation. He did mention that there were no eyewitnesses to the accident but stated that the matter was being thoroughly investigated and that more than likely the woman would be charged with causing death by dangerous driving shortly.
Asked about the fact that the woman was allowed to drive out with the said vehicle when she was released the commander questioned what was wrong with such an action.
“What is wrong with that? Is not her vehicle? Why she can’t drive out with it?” he questioned and when it was pointed out again that she had killed someone with the said vehicle he asked: “So what, she nervous? There is nothing wrong with her getting the vehicle we took photographs of the vehicle and took measurements, we can’t have the vehicle blocking up the police compound.” He added that the vehicle belonged to the woman and asked who else must drive the vehicle.
Ramnarine also dismissed suggestions that the woman was given preferential treatment because of who she is.
“There was no preferential treatment. I don’t know who she is. The police acted in accordance with the law,” he said.
And about her being released before 72 hours expired, Ramnarine said: “The 72 hours law is not cast in stone, there are a number of things to be considered and in this case the woman was released on bail.”
