Towana Clarke, the Corporate Secretary at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), was yesterday granted her release on $700,000 bail after she was charged with causing the death of Police Constable Carl Roach in an accident at the intersection of Brickdam and Chalmers Place.
Clarke, 34, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in a Georgetown court, where she pleaded not guilty to the charge that on November 25th, 2019, at Chalmers Place, Brickdam, she drove motorcar PMM 2528 in a dangerous manner, thereby causing the death of Roach.
Clarke was represented by attorney-at-law Dexter Todd, who told the court that his client, of Norton and Haley Streets, Wortmanville, is a Corporate Secretary attached to NAREI. He said she had cooperated with the police since the time she was taken into custody.
According to Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, around 12.30 am on the day in question, Clarke was proceeding east along the northern side of Brickdam. On the approach to Chalmers place, he said, Clarke turned south without stopping and collided with the motorcycle that was being ridden by Roach.
Jeffers said Roach was subsequently flung 150 feet away from the point of impact and sustained multiple injuries, which caused his death. Roach was pronounced dead on the scene and Clarke was arrested.
Jeffers objected to bail, citing the nature of the offence and the fact that a person lost his life as a result of the accident.
The magistrate subsequently set bail at $700,000 and told Clarke to report to the Alberttown Police Station every Friday. She also suspended Clarke’s licence before adjourning the matter until December 16th, 2019.
