Sewkumar Singh, the minibus driver charged with causing the death of the 66-year-old cyclist with whom he collided along the Herstelling Public Road in September, on Monday blamed the deceased for the accident.
Singh is on trial before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on the charge that on September 19, at Herstelling, he drove minibus BLL 3749 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Basil Rambarran.
Magistrate McLennan has already found that a prima facie case was made out against Singh and ordered that he lead his defence at the last hearing.
Singh, upon the advice of his attorney, opted to give unsworn evidence on Monday and he blamed Rambarran for the accident and his death.
Subsequent to his evidence, his attorney made closing submissions, telling the court that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it was Singh who caused the death of Rambarran. Instead, he noted, that the evidence showed multiple attempts to save the cyclist.
In response, police prosecutor Neville Jeffers stated that the defendant’s testimony cast no doubt on the prosecutor’s case and that Singh was not being truthful.
Jeffers urged the court to find the defendant guilty of the offence.
The Chief Magistrate then adjourned the matter until December 19, when a ruling is expected to be made.
The police previously reported that Rambarran, who was on a cycle, allegedly rode across the eastern carriage way of the Herstelling road and collided with the bus.
Rambarran, a labourer of Farm Squatting Area, fell on the road and was later rushed to the Diamond Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A breathalyser test was done on Singh and his breath alcohol level was found to be exceedingly above the legal limit, police had said.
