Taxi driver Bahardo Parvattie was refused bail when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
He was not required to plead to the charges which allege that on August 28 at Friendship, he drove motor car PJJ 1260 in a manner dangerous to the public which caused the death of Khairool D’Oliveira and Noland D’Oliveira.
Parvattie, 24, of 79 New Scheme Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was represented by attorney Mohan Lall who gave all assurances that his client would attend court if he were granted bail. Further, he said that his client had no prior convictions and bail should be granted since the offence was a bailable one.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield said that based on the seriousness of the offence that bail should be fixed in a substantial amount. In response, Lall said that while the matter was serious, it was not grounds for the refusal of bail.
Mansfield said that on the day in question, the accused was proceeding along the Friendship Public Road at a fast rate while the motorcycle being ridden by the D’Oliveira couple was coming from the opposite direction. Parvattie allegedly lost control of his vehicle and collided with the motorcycle which caused the husband and wife to fall and suffer injuries. Khairool was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident while Noland succumbed later while he was receiving treatment at the Georgetown Hospital.
Parvattie was refused bail and the matter put down for September 6 at Providence Magistrate’s Court.
The husband and wife, Jehovah Witnesses, were returning home just after 5 pm following Bible studies with others at the Friendship Kingdom Hall when tragedy struck.