The man charged with causing the death of 18-year-old Malika Patterson by dangerous driving was released on $450,000 bail on Thursday when he appeared at the Fort Wellington Court before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo.
Charles Ferreira, 21 of Fort Wellington Government Compound, is alleged to have driven a white Corolla NZE motorcar, PMM 788 in a dangerous manner, resulting in Patterson’s death on August 28 at No. 29 Village, West Coast Berbice.
Ferreira was also charged with being an unlicensed driver, breach of insurance, failing to stop after an accident, failing to render assistance, taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, failing to adhere to siren while police was giving chase and “driving when the breath alcohol level exceed the prescribed limit.”
Ferreira, the nephew of Region 5 Regional Executive Officer Floyd France, first appeared before Magistrate Nagamootoo at the New Amsterdam Court on Tuesday and bail was refused. He was not required to plead to the causing death charge but pleaded not guilty to the others.
According to police reports, Patterson, of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, was walking along the roadway when Ferreira alleged struck her down as she attempted to cross the road. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Fort Wellington Hospital. Ferreira was apprehended by police shortly after allegedly fleeing the scene of the accident.
Defence counsel Joel Persid Edmond submitted that his client was not the holder of a passport and was not a flight risk and that the offences were bailable. He said too that his client was arrested at his home where he lives with his uncle, and was not even the driver of the car at the time.
The lawyer also told the court that his client who lives “half of a stone’s throw away from the police station,” had lent the car to a friend, “Isaacs” from Georgetown. Along with the bail, Ferreira was ordered to report to the Fort Wellington Police Station every Monday.
Reports are that he was driving the car belonging to France, who was also charged with permitting an unlicensed driver to use his vehicle and with permitting a breach of insurance.
France pleaded not guilty to both offences and was placed on $20,000 bail. Both defendants would return to court on September 16.
In his application for bail for France, Edmond submitted that “the police did not know what they were doing. They charged Ferreira with taking the vehicle without consent and then they charged France with permitting him to use his vehicle.”
