Winston Felix, the truck driver who fatally struck an Agricola woman while she was on a pedestrian crossing, was yesterday charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
It is alleged that Felix, 59, of Windsor Forest Railway Embankment, on November 28, at the Agricola Public Road, drove motor vehicle GKK 8663 in a manner which was dangerous to the public, causing the death of Fatima Jamal.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him by Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones said Jamal was on the pedestrian crossing and Felix admitted in a statement to seeing her crossing as well as looking both north and south before her attempt to do so. He said the right side of Felix’s vehicle’s bumper hit the woman, who fell to the road and later succumbed to the injuries she received.
Jamal, 62, of Lot 181 Caesar Street, Agricola was struck while she was crossing the road to go home, after leaving her job at the Alpha Hotel a few blocks away. She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and connected to a life support machine, in the Intensive Care Unit, where she eventually succumbed.
Felix’s attorney pleaded with the magistrate to grant bail in reasonable amount, while noting that he has been driving for 14 years and has no previous convictions. He added that Felix is not a flight risk since he is not in possession of a passport or a travel permit.
He also stated that his client has a very strong defence. “The facts will show that he has a very good defence,” the lawyer added.
Jones, however, objected to bail, while submitting that the prosecution’s case might differ from that of the attorney. “Not because he doesn’t have a passport means that he is not a flight risk and will return for trial,” Jones argued, while saying that Felix did not provide an address to the police.
The man’s attorney, in response, voiced his dissatisfaction at the prosecutor’s objections. “I am amazed that bail was objected to,” he said, before adding that one of the reasons for bail is to ensure that the defendant returns for trial. “Bail was objected to because he did not produce an address?” he questioned, before adding that Felix comes from a poor background and lives in the squatting area of Windsor Forest. He further dismissed Jones’ contention that Jamal looked carefully before crossing the road.
Jones’ objections were overruled by the court and Felix was placed on $800,000 bail. The matter was adjourned until January 6, 2015, when it will be called in Court Six.
