A minibus driver was yesterday charged with causing the death of a 70-year-old man, after he failed to stop at an intersection and collided with a vehicle that hit the now-dead pedestrian.
Derrick Da Silva, 30, of Lot 672 Foulis Street, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry set bail for Da Silva’s release at $400,000.
The charge against Da Silva stated that on July 30, at Hadfield and Smyth streets, he drove a motor vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Philbert Adonis.
Prosecutor Denise Griffith-Jacobis stated that the accused was travelling east along Smyth Street, when a car was at the time proceeding south.
According to the prosecution, Da Silva failed to stop at the intersection and collided with the car, which spun and hit the deceased, Philbert Adonis. The court heard that Adonis, 70, of Adelaide Street, was immediately picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the hospital, where he died while receiving treatment.
Da Silva, a father of two, was represented by Attorney George Thomas, who made an application for bail. Thomas pleaded with the court to grant bail in a reasonable sum, since it was not his client’s car that actually struck the deceased.
Griffith-Jacobis, however, objected to bail, while citing the prevalence of road carnage, particularly at the intersection where the fatal accident occurred.
She also expressed concern that no firm precedents are set, while noting that in most cases the drivers are only placed on bail and many continue to drive dangerously along the streets. Drivers do not largely conform to traffic rules and laws, she said, resulting in the death of persons, despite the various road safety programmes being offered and the caution given by law enforcement officers.
The magistrate, after hearing the case, placed Da Silva on bail and adjourned the case until September 14, when it would be called again for reports.
