As the police probe into the accident that claimed the life of Garnett Street carpenter, Deonarine Singh more than a week ago continues, the driver was on Wednesday released on bail after he was charged with two traffic-related offences stemming from the said accident.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that Marcine Newton, 28, was charged with driving a motor vehicle with a tinted windscreen while not being the holder of a permit and driving a motor vehicle which was fitted with obscure number plates.
He appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 7 where he denied the allegations and was placed on bail.
Traffic Chief Linden Isles on Wednesday informed Stabroek News that the investigation in relation to the death of Singh continues and a case file is being prepared for legal advice.
The accident occurred around 10 pm on Friday, April 26th, at the junction of Sheriff and Garnett streets, Campbellville, Georgetown.
Newton had turned himself into the police at the Kitty Police station after he had learnt of Singh’s death.
Singh, also known as ‘Black Boy’ and ‘Munesh,’ a father of three of Lot 45 Garnett Street, was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he succumbed the following morning.
An autopsy later revealed that he died as a result of a fractured skull.
A police investigation into the accident was only launched days after the accident.
Enquiries, the police had said, found that Singh was standing on the western side of Sheriff Street, south of Garnett Street, when the accident occurred. Singh reportedly ran across the road and into the path of a car, while the traffic light at the junction was green for vehicles to proceed south along Sheriff Street.
He was subsequently picked up by the driver of the car, who was escorted by a Guyana Police Force pickup [driver and registration number unknown] to the GPHC.
A police source had informed this newspaper that investigators were trying to ascertain which police vehicle was at the scene and why the ranks did not report the accident.
Isles recently told Stabroek News that an internal investigation is ongoing into that aspect of the matter.
Vicky Singh, the dead man’s son, had explained that Deonarine was last seen alive outside his home. After he disappeared, relatives assumed he went to visit a family member in Sophia.
However, after time passed and Deonarine did not return home, they began to search for him. Searches at other relatives, the GPHC and police stations, did not yield any results.
It was not until last Monday, when relatives decided to approach a nearby business and request to review their CCTV footage, that they learnt Deonarine was the victim of an accident.
Vicky noted that based on what he saw in the footage, Deonarine was struck down by a silver Toyota Premio while attempting to cross the road. “I saw the car but I didn’t see the number plate. I see they open the trunk also but I didn’t know if they go fah put he in the trunk or what transpire deh,” Vicky added.
He said a police vehicle was also seen pulling up behind the car which struck Deonarine, a short while after the accident. “Them ain’t put he in the trunk after the van pull up, they put him in the car. Yuh seeing the hazard [light] pun the car and the police van,” Vicky said.
He said the footage also showed that both vehicles remained at the scene for a while before they departed.
After they saw the footage, relatives returned to the GPHC last Monday and a receptionist there reportedly confirmed that there was an unidentified accident victim of Indian descent.
Arrangements were later made to have them identify Deonarine’s remains at the mortuary.
The family had previously voiced concerns about the manner in which the matter was dealt with, while calling for justice.
