Damion Robinson, the motorcyclist who knocked down five-year-old Afya Harte and then attempted to flee, was remanded to prison yesterday on a charge of dangerous driving.
Robinson, 28, of Lot 226 South Turkeyen, was slapped with four charges and he pleaded guilty to three of them when he appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. He was fined after admitting to riding without a licence, riding without insurance and failing to render assistance. He, however, denied a dangerous driving charge.
He was fined $25,000 each on the charges of riding without a licence and not having insurance, and $20,000 for failure to render assistance. Prosecutor John Singh said Robinson was riding his cycle west on the ‘A’ Field, Sophia, Access Road, at a fast rate last Saturday afternoon when he crashed into the five-year old.
The collision caused the girl to sustain injuries. Singh said Robinson then came off of his cycle and started to push it away from the scene of the accident. Nearby residents urged the man to help the child but he refused.
The prosecutor said the girl had to be picked up by others, who rushed to the child to the hospital. The prosecutor objected to bail because the child is still in the hospital, where she is being treated for a fractured arm, leg and head injuries.
Singh also told the court that the police are not satisfied with the address provided by Robinson and he noted that he is aware that the man works in the interior and he fears that he may not return to court if granted bail.
The magistrate then remanded Robinson until the next hearing, which is scheduled for May 22nd.
Robinson fled the scene as well as his home when ranks showed up there the next day. However, he was held by residents on Sunday with the help of an ex-police constable.
