A city magistrate on Friday sentenced a Route 42 minibus driver to 56 months in jail for causing the death by dangerous driving of Lynette Joseph.
The ruling was made by trial Magistrate Judy Latchman after closing submissions by the defendant’s attorney and police prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves.
On January 6, 2015, on the Little Diamond Public Road, Travis David drove motor vehicle BJJ 9471 in a manner which was dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Joseph.
During the trial the prosecutor called a total of nine witnesses, five police officers and four civilians, including Mark Benjamin, the bus conductor.
In the summation of the evidence led, Magistrate Latchman stated that the defendant gave unsworn evidence where he stated that he was travelling at 40 miles per hour. Magistrate Latchman stated that she disbelieved the defendant when he said he was travelling at 40 mph based on evidence led by an officer which indicated that the defendant acknowledged skid marks caused by his minibus. Based on the officer’s evidence the skid marks were 170 feet in length.
The magistrate further stated that the defendant had to have been travelling at a dangerous speed given the extent of damage the bus suffered. Additionally, the court heard that it was a result of the defendant’s dangerous driving that Joseph died. Upon these grounds the defendant was found guilty of the crime.
David’s attorney signalled the intention to lodge an appeal. The attorney also requested bail for David pending the appeal. This bail request was denied by the magistrate.
On the day of the accident, at about 5:45pm, the bus, which operates between Georgetown and Timehri, was proceeding north along the western carriageway of the Little Diamond Public Road. As David was about to negotiate a turn, he lost control before hitting a lantern post. Joseph, who was sitting in the third seat behind the driver, subsequently succumbed to injuries she sustained as result of the accident.
