An employee of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry charged with causing the death of Jevon Bellamy, who was killed in a hit and run incident on Monday morning at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Sampson Pereira, who also faced three other charges, was remanded to prison.
It is alleged that on November 10 at Providence, EBD, Pereira drove motor vehicle PJJ 7632 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Bellamy.
According to the second charge, Pereira also failed to stop and render assistance to the injured person. The third charge read that Pereira had the vehicle tinted in a manner to obstruct the identity of persons travelling. He was also charged with failing to take Bellamy to a registered medical practitioner.
Pereira pleaded guilty to the charge that he failed to stop and render assistance to the injured person and not guilty to the other three charges.
According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, on November 10 about 01:00 hrs, Pereira was driving motor vehicle PJJ 7632 on the Public Road at Providence, at a fast rate of speed, when, in the vicinity of the National Stadium, he struck down Bellamy who was standing on the western side of the road waiting to cross. After the collision, the pedestrian was thrown 115 feet away from the point of impact. He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Pereira, after the collision, did not stop at the scene. He was arrested some four hours after the accident at his home in Mocha.
Pereira’s attorney Adrian Thompson told the court that what he understands is that the accident did not happen on the road but “in a gap.” He also claimed that the vehicle involved in the accident was parked at the time. Thompson also told the court that he believed the tint had nothing to do with the accident. He offered that Bellamy ran into the vehicle and he was not sure if it was a suicide attempt.
Prosecutor Grant objected to bail based on the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence. He also reminded the court that Pereira did not stop after the accident. He added that there is a possibility that if bail is granted Pereira might not return for his trial.
Thompson argued that his client was not a flight risk and he did not have a passport. When questioned about why his client did not report the accident, he answered that Pereira panicked after the accident and he did not think of that at the time. Thompson also stated that his client will return for trial if bail is granted since he has held a fixed job for over six years now and also has a fixed place of abode.
On the day of the accident, Bellamy was three days short of celebrating his 30th birthday.
After listening to all the facts presented in the court the magistrate told Thompson she was not convinced and refused bail.
In addition, Pereira was fined $600,000 for failing to stop and render assistance to the injured person with the alternative of 3 months imprisonment.
The matter was transferred to Court 5 for statements on November 28.
