Two weeks have passed since former national cyclist Jude Bentley lost his life in an accident and his frustrated family has said that they are “clueless” about the police investigation into the matter.
Bentley was struck on February 9th while cycling along Clive Lloyd Drive by a vehicle driven by former Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff, Gary Best.
Stabroek News spoke on Saturday with Bentley’s eldest child Jada Bentley and his partner Fonah McWatt who believe that they are being denied justice.
“I am not too sure what has been going on….I didn’t hear anything about the case. Everything happen so fast. I am still trying to process what happen. Honestly it’s not fair. I feel angry…..but I don’t know. I am not seeing anything being done,” Jada said.
Meanwhile, McWatt said, “I don’t know what’s going on. We lost our loved one and nothing is happening. No one has reached out to us. No one has even apologized to the family….. Nobody has said absolutely nothing. I am not talking about settlement. I am speaking about tell us what’s going on. Contact the family. Let us know, okay we are working on this. Something. They treat us worst then animals. It seems like a deliberate effort to delay justice. This is exactly what this is”.
Best, a retired Rear Admiral, was arrested on the morning of February 8th after the fatal accident.
The accident occurred at approximately 4.31 am on the northern side of the Russian Embassy as Bentley, 41, of Lot 33 Robb Street, Georgetown, was on his way to meet a group of cyclists for training. Best, who was driving an SUV, #PRR 8182, was proceeding in the same direction.
In a statement on the day of the fatal accident, the police, who did not name Best, but identified him as a 61-year-old resident of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, said he disclosed that he was proceeding east along the southern lane. He alleged that the cyclist suddenly appeared in front of him and that he applied brakes and the right side of the front of his vehicle collided with the cyclist, who fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries.
After the impact, the vehicle dislodged a lamp pole on the southern side of the road.
The police had said that Bentley was pronounced dead at the accident scene.
An autopsy later revealed that Bentley died as a result of multiple injuries.
Best, who failed a breathalyser test, was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital the following morning after he complained of feeling unwell. While there, he was under police guard.
On February 10th, he was discharged from the hospital after which he was placed on $100,000 station bail and his passport was lodged.
It remains unclear whether the police have wrapped up their investigation.
On Wednesday, Commander of Region 4(A) Assistant Commissioner Edgar Thomas had told this newspaper that the police had obtained additional statements as they continue to investigate the accident. He had said that the police are in the process of wrapping up their investigation after which a file will be sent for legal advice.
Jada who lost her mother in a traffic accident several years ago told Stabroek News that at present she is just trying to be patient. She said she is waiting to see if there will be any progress in the matter. If not, she added that she is leaving it up to her family to decide what will be their next move.
She is however calling for Best to face the full force of the law.
“Honestly I feel like I really don’t know. Everything is just…I still haven’t gotten a chance to think about everything but I really want to see him you know get the punishment that he deserves. Because you know he was wrong and he was drunk. He was over the limit and I think that justice needs to be served because it’s not fair that he is free and my dad is gone. I mean I am never going to get my dad back but it’s only right that he faces the right punishment,” she explained.
McWatt has also expressed disappointment in the manner in which the matter is being dealt with. “It’s two weeks and this matter can’t pass through the court….Now Jude’s life is gone. Jude is never coming back and nothing is coming out of it. This is one of the most disgraceful act that I have seen and I am very hurt….we feel like we have lost hope,” she related.
“I know I have lost my loved one. I know that my children have lost their father and every time I look at my children and see them crying I just feel like the system is just failing us……but somebody should step in and see to it that justice is done. This is absolute….can you believe that he kill somebody and nothing is coming out of it. It’s more than two weeks have gone by and nothing has come out of it”, McWatt added.
