Juliano Seunarine, the driver charged with causing the death of Christobel Hughes by driving in a dangerous manner while drunk was yesterday jailed for four years.
Seunarine, 28, who hails from Berbice, was last year charged with driving his vehicle in a dangerous manner while intoxicated, causing the death of Hughes on the night of August 15, 2015.
Hughes succumbed on August 16, 2015, approximately 12 hours after being involved in the incident in the vicinity of Lamaha and Pike streets, Kitty. She had been travelling in an X-Trail vehicle which was being driven by her son Stuart Hughes when the incident occurred.
Seunarine had pleaded guilty to driving under the influence at his first appearance at court and was fined $7,500. He was not, however, at that time required to plead to the indictable charge of dangerous driving.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday ruled that she believed Hughes’ demise was as a result of the injuries sustained in the incident, which was the consequence of the defendant’s driving falling way below a level that could be considered careful and competent.
She found that Seunarine had been driving under the influence of alcohol, and it was his inebriated state on that night which contributed to the incident that caused Hughes’ injuries. McLennan further stated that she was satisfied based on the point of impact and the conditions at the scene, (brought out in the testimony of Stuart and from photo evidence), that the defendant drove east on Pike Street and failed to stop at Lamaha Street.
She said too that based on Seunarine’s caution statement, in which he admitted to having drinks earlier that night, driving tipsy and losing control of the vehicle as well as the “overwhelming evidence of the prosecution’s witnesses,” she found his testimony before the court to be “fanciful and could not be believed.”
At his last hearing, Seunarine told the court that he had never told police he was travelling on Pike Street that night. He said as well, that he knew the road he was driving on at the time was a major road, making it the responsibility of the other driver to stop and make way for him.
Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, cross-examining Seunarine, had put it to the witness that his entire testimony was a fabrication and that on that night in August, he had in fact been the one driving along Pike Street, while the other vehicle was on Lamaha Street. He suggested that Seunarine had been so high that he did not remember what street he was on.
The magistrate also highlighted the testimony of a police constable who said that Seunarine had been staggering when he exited the car.
Seunarine’s attorney Carl Hanoman, in a plea for leniency, told the court that Seunarine resides with his mother, who is ill, as well as his siblings, all of whom he worked to provide for. Hanoman noted that his client was on remand for nearly two months after being charged, which taught him a valuable lesson and acted as a deterrent. He further stated that no useful purpose would be served by bestowing a custodial sentence on the defendant. He added that young people should be given a second chance at life.
Nevertheless, after being found guilty of the offence, Seunarine was sentenced to four years in prison. Such a charge carries a maximum fine of $100,000 or not more than five years imprisonment.
Hughes’ children, Nigel, Stuart and Elizabeth were all present in court for the final hearing. Seunarine, who became visibly emotional after the decision was read, had the support of his family as well.
