At the Fort Wellington Court yesterday, Magistrate Roby Benn placed the driver of the car that was involved in the Bush Lot, West Berbice hit-and-run accident, on bail amounting to over $2M.
Steve Hanover, 42 of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara who was not required to plead to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving was placed on $800,000 bail for that charge.
The court heard that on December 31, Hanover was driving motorcar, PKK 252 when he struck 26-year-old Harrinarine ‘Paul’ Rachpaul of Bush Lot and reportedly fled the scene.
Further charges read to the defendant included: driving without a licence, failing to report an accident, failing to render assistance and breach of insurance.
However, he could not raise the bail and had to be remanded to prison. He is scheduled to return to court on February 9.
Rachpaul was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was treated for severe injuries about the body. He was then transferred to the Mahaicony Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Grace Bristol objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant is a flight risk and that if granted bail he would not attend his trial. She told the court too that after he fled the scene, his broken number plate was left on the road.
He was located following diligent work by the police and was taken into the station four days later by his lawyer.
In his application for bail, attorney-at-law, Satesh Kissoon argued that the licence plate was placed on the road.
He denied that his client was behind the wheel and said he could prove that he was elsewhere at the time of the accident.
He also said that no one saw Hanover at the scene of the accident. The lawyer also submitted that his client tried to make contact with the police but could not locate them.
Meanwhile, another man who is the owner of the car was charged with permitting an unlicensed driver.
At the time of his demise, Rachpaul was trying to clear empty beer bottles from the roadway when the car which was reportedly speeding came out of its lane and struck him on the other side.
Reports are that he was lifted into the air and landed on the bonnet of the white AT 192 Carina motorcar.
It finally came to a halt about 100 ft away and the goldsmith then fell off; the driver fled the scene.
