Minibus driver Kevin Farrell was yesterday sentenced to three years in jail after being found guilty of causing the death of his conductor after a crash along the Herstelling Public Road last year.
Farrell, 31, of Lot 20 Supply, East Bank Demerara, was on trial for the charge that he drove minibus BVV 901, on October 11, 2016, on the Herstelling Public Road, East Bank Demerara, in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Leonard Henry. Henry was also the owner of the bus.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, during her ruling yesterday in Georgetown, told Farrell that she had taken into consideration the evidence led by the prosecution through its witnesses and also his sworn evidence.
She said that as a careful driver, he should have checked his tyres and if he had done so he would have observed that he had three defective tyres, which had no grip. This coupled with the fact that he was driving on a wet road was seen as being responsible for the accident.
Magistrate McLennan added that although she believed Farrell’s sworn evidence, the unsafe vehicle resulted in him driving in a dangerous manner.
In mitigation, a sobbing Farrell, told the court that he was sorry for what happened.
He was later subsequently sentenced to three years in jail by the magistrate.
Henry, 41, of Land of Canaan, was one of three persons who had been hospitalised after the accident, which occurred after the driver reportedly lost control of the minibus.
Passengers had told Stabroek News that the bus was negotiating a turn when they felt it “wobbling” and as the driver tried to apply brakes the vehicle kept sliding since the road was wet. As a result, they said the bus slammed into a utility pole and landed on the conductor’s side.
