A Bartica man was yesterday accused of causing the death of a ten-year-old child who he hit while riding an ATV in the mining community.
Excavator operator Clive McDonald was admitted to bail in the sum of $350,000 by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. McDonald, of 185 Mongrippa Hill, Bartica, pleaded not guilty to the charges of causing death by dangerous driving, unlicensed riding and riding without registration.
It was alleged that on December 7, at Second Avenue Bartica, he rode an ATV motorcycle in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Marian Bennette. On the same day also, McDonald is accused of riding the motorcycle without registration and without a licence.
Prosecutor Stephen Telford related to the court that McDonald was speeding when he hit the child. He said that after being hit, the child was rushed to the Bartica Hospital in an unconscious state but was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital because of the severity of her injuries. She later succumbed there.
However, McDonald’s lawyer Peter Hugh told the court that while it was unfortunate that someone’s life was snuffed out, his client was innocent of the charge. According to Hugh, the accident was the child’s fault. He said based on his instructions, the deceased walked out from behind a parked minibus and into the path of his client’s vehicle, which resulted in the collision.
Telford had no objection to McDonald being granted bail but requested that it be granted in a substantial sum.
After hearing the case, magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry placed McDonald on $350,000 bail and the case was transferred to the Bartica Magistrates’ Court for January 5.
