Magistrate Sunil Scarce remanded a 29-year-old goldsmith of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of Adrian Osborne and Colin Anthony John, when he yesterday appeared in the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.
Satyanand Rampersaud, also stands accused of failing to stop after an accident, failing to render assistance and driving under the influence of alcohol.
The court heard that on Sunday last, Osborne, 23, and John, 20, both of Henrietta, were walking along the roadway at Richmond around 3.45am when they were struck down by a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle sped away from the scene and both men were rushed to the Suddie Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
Rampersaud, the driver of the vehicle, was later arrested at his home and was found to be above the legal limit of consumption of alcohol. The accused, who was represented by Attorney Hemraj Rajkumar was not required to plead to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving; however, he pleaded not guilty to the other three charges. Rajkumar asked that reasonable bail be granted to his client since he has a permanent place of abode and is not a flight risk.
Prosecutor Haimwant Ramsewak objected to bail citing the prevalence of the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
After considering the matter, the magistrate remanded the man to prison for causing the death of the two men while he granted bail in the sum of $30,000 for driving under the influence of alcohol, $25,000 for failing to render assistance and $20,000 for failing to stop after an accident.
Rampersaud was ordered to return to court on March 3.
