The young woman who was allegedly responsible for the death of a Lethem resident after the vehicle she was driving struck him down on February 19, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was granted $75,000 bail after she pleaded not guilty.
According to Commander of E&F Division David Ramnarine, Suebia Khan, also a resident of Lethem, appeared in the Lethem Magistrates’ Court on March 9 and was granted bail. He said she is expected to return to court on June 1.
Residents of Lethem had decried the police investigation into the death of Alvin Goodridge as they felt the police was moving too slowly and that Khan, the daughter of a prominent businessman, was being given preferential treatment. Goodridge, a food vendor of Lethem, was killed when he was allegedly struck down by Khan, who at the time was driving a Toyota Tundra.
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.
Residents had also ex-pressed anger over the fact that in less than 24 hours the woman was allowed to drive out of the Lethem Police Station compound with the vehicle.
However, Ramnarine had denied the charges of any preferential treatment and had said the woman was released on station bail since it was a bailable offence. “There is nothing illegal about putting a person on bail,” Ramnarine had said
When he was 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.
Yesterday Lethem residents said while they were happy that the woman was charged they are of the opinion that her licence should have been suspended until the conclusion of the matter. Instead, she is driving around Lethem in the same vehicle.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News has been reliably informed that the relatives of Goodridge are in the process reaching a financial settlement with the young woman.
