Alleged drag racer Christopher Bridjmohan was yesterday charged with causing the death of his friend Christopher Baichan and for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Bridjmohan, 20, of Lot 174 Campbell Street, Albouystown, pleaded not guilty to both charges when he was arraigned yesterday at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and he was later released on $250,000 bail after his lawyer alleged that he was run off the road by a taxi.
It is alleged that he drove motor car PPP 3838 in a dangerous manner on November 9, at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara (ECD), thereby causing the death of Baichan. It was further alleged that Bridjmohan was driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
According to Police Inspector John Singh, who presented the police’s case, Bridjmohan along with other persons assembled at Le Ressouvenir, ECD, where they were preparing to drag race. Singh further mentioned that police ranks in the area at the time stopped the activity, only to be abused by those assembled to drag race, whom he described as “children of celebrities.”
He noted that Bridjmohan was among the assembled group and was consuming alcohol as well. The prosecutor said that the group subsequently left. Bridjmohan, Singh stated, later lost control of his car while speeding on the road, resulting in the death of Baichan, who was a passenger in the car.
Bridjmohan’s attorney James Bond, however, told the court that his client, upon the request of Baichan, who was his best friend, was on his way to take Baichan home. He said that Bridjmohan was run off the road by a yellow cab, resulting in the fatal crash. He opined that things might have ended differently if Baichan was wearing his seat belt, while pointing out that his client was wearing his.
Singh rejected the attorney’s claims of another vehicle being involved in the crash. He also strongly objected to bail, while noting that Bridjmohan was driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding on the roadway. He suggested that Bridjmohan might not appear in court to answer the charges if released on bail, while citing the case of accused Hafraz Mangroo, who was charged with causing the death of Lovina Williams but who fled before sentencing. He was sentenced to a five-year jail term in his absence, after he stopped turning up at his trial.
Bond protested the objection to bail. He told the court that the offences were bailable and he argued that bail should not be seen as punitive. The attorney explained that the defendant’s family is bearing the cost of Baichan’s funeral. He added that his client was willing to lodge his passport and dismissed the prosecution’s claims that he might not return to answer the charges levelled against him.
Singh then announced that he would be guided by the court’s decision but noted that he stood by his objections.
Magistrate Alex Moore subsequently placed Bridjmohan on $250,000 bail, providing that he lodge his passport with the police and report to the Sparendaam Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Fridays between 8am and 12noon.
The case will be called again on December 15, when a report on the matter is expected to be presented to the court.
