A city magistrate yesterday sentenced minibus driver Sewkumar Singh, who was found guilty of causing the death of a 66-year-old cyclist with whom he collided along the Herstelling Public Road in September, to two years jail.
The charge against Singh stated 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.
During yesterday’s court session, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan stated that she considered evidence led by both the prosecution’s witnesses and the defendant’s testimony.
The Chief Magistrate further noted that there is no dispute that there was an accident and that the defendant hit the now deceased man. She considered the fact that there were no eyewitnesses to the accident but there was evidence to show that the defendant did come to a sudden stop.
She stated that there was no direct evidence as to the manner in which the defendant drove apart from what was said in his statement and circumstantial evidence.
McLennan added that she disbelieved the defendant’s evidence of the manner in which the accident occurred, based on the distance Rambarran ended up after the accident and the skid marks on the road.
Upon these grounds it was noted that the defendant’s driving fell way below the standards of a careful driver and as such, he was found guilty of the crime.
In mitigation the defendant’s attorney pleaded with the court to be lenient with his client since he would have taken the deceased to the Diamond Hospital after the accident and also cooperated with the police.
The attorney added that his client is also mindful to make a monetary compensation to the family of the deceased.
Considering what was said by the attorney, Singh was then sentenced to two years in jail.
