Recently convicted Bishnarine Persaud, proprietor of Sanjay’s Jewellery, was yesterday released on $500,000 bail pending an appeal hearing, after his lawyer moved to the Appeal Court citing what he said was his client’s life-threatening illnesses.
This move came less than a week after Magistrate Judy Latchman sentenced the city businessman to a 58-month jail term after finding him guilty of causing the death of Leon Hunte, by way of dangerous driving.
On September 11, 2014, Persaud, 43, called ‘Sanjay,’ drove motor car PKK 5501 in a manner dangerous to the public at Lamaha Street, Newtown, Kitty, thereby causing the death of Hunte. Persaud had pleaded not guilty when the charge was read and was released on $1.5 million bail.
A lengthy trial followed, ending last Friday when Magistrate Latchman found him guilty of the offence, noting that there was enough evidence that the businessman fell short of the standard and care of a competent driver, thus he was responsible for Hunte’s death.
In response to the verdict, Persaud’s lawyer Glenn Hanoman, made an application for bail, pending an appeal. Hanoman reminded the magistrate during his application to take into consideration that his client, subsequent to the accident, paid the complete funeral and wake expenses of the deceased. He also said Persaud was the sole breadwinner of his household and the father of two children who still attend school. However, that application as well as a subsequent one made to acting Chief Justice Ian Chang was refused.
In light of this, the man’s lawyer moved to the Court of Appeal where the application was accepted by Court of Appeal Judge BS Roy who granted bail in the sum of $500,000.
Persaud was expected to be released from the Camp Street Prison yesterday afternoon.
Magistrate Latchman was previously forced to grant Hanoman an adjournment on July 28 after the lawyer filed a constitutional motion claiming that his client was receiving an unfair trial.
In the motion, Hanoman claimed that the magistrate refused to grant him sufficient time to lead his defence. As a result of the motion, Hanoman was handed a month-long adjournment.
Hunte, 53, of Stone Avenue, Blygezight was heading home on his bicycle along Lamaha Street, Newtown, when he was hit by the car being driven by Persaud at around 1.30 am on September 12, 2014.
The deceased, who had been mute from birth, was a handyman at City Hall for more than two decades. He had been on short leave from work at the time of the accident in order to celebrate his birthday.
