After turning himself in, Shamir Barker, the driver accused in the hit and run accident that caused the death of Latoya Thompson last month, was yesterday charged and remanded to jail by a city magistrate.
Barker, 24, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on August 12th, 2015, he drove PPP 1354 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Thompson.
Additionally, he was charged with two counts of failing to stop and rendering assistance to the injured parties as well as another charge of failing to report the accident to the police.
Barker, who was represented by attorneys Priya Manickchand and Glenn Hanoman, pleaded not guilty to the other additional charges.
In making an application for bail to be granted, Hanoman told the court that his client had panicked when he found out that police were looking for him. However, he said the man decided to turn himself in with the intention of clearing his name.
Hanoman further noted that his client and his client’s mother have been receiving death threats since the accident occurred. Nevertheless, Hanoman asked for reasonable bail to be granted, while maintaining that his client is not a flight risk and is willing to face a trial.
However, Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones contended that if Barker is granted bail, there is the likelihood that he will not return to face a trial. He further noted that Barker’s abandoning of his car after the accident showed that he lacked remorse for the life that was lost.
Magistrate Ann McLennan subsequently refused bail and the matter was transferred to the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 5 for a follow-up hearing on September 16th.
Thompson was killed after she was struck off a motorcycle at Eccles.
Police said that the 27 year-old woman, of Craig, East Bank Demerara, was the pillion rider on the motorcycle, which was hit when the driver failed to stop at the traffic light. Thompson was subsequently pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while the cyclist, Orwin Whittington, 35, of Alberttown, Georgetown, was admitted as a patient.
According to Thompson’s brother, Timothy, she sustained severe head injuries and she apparently died at the scene of the accident.
Stabroek News was told that the impact of the collision sent Thompson and Whittington pitching several feet.
In a haste to escape, the driver of the car refused to render assistance to the two injured persons, Thompson’s brother added. Thompson was heading home from work when the accident occurred
The couple was subsequently picked up by public-spirited persons and was rushed to the hospital.
