A police constable was charged yesterday with causing the death of Zalima Subrattie, who was struck down by a car on May 24th as she attempted to cross the Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara Public Road.
Michael Lewis, 29, who was the driver of a car, PKK 9991, appeared before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where he was charged with causing the death of Subrattie, called ‘Patsy,’ 61, by dangerous driving.
Lewis was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
He was granted his release on $200,000 bail and is to return to court on October 12th, when the matter will be called again.
The police, in a statement, had said that the fatal accident occurred just after 6.15 pm on the day in question.
At the time, Lewis, a special constable, had been proceeding east along the northern lane on the northern carriageway way of the Chateau Margot Public Road. The driver told police that he was changing lanes in order to overtake a vehicle when he noticed Subrattie step off the median.
“He then tried to swerve left to avoid a collision but the right side front of his vehicle collided with her causing her to fall on to the road surface where she received injuries about her body,” the police report said.
Following the collision, an ambulance responded and paramedics pronounced the woman dead after examining her at the scene.
A breathalyser test returned negative and the driver was placed in police custody.
The woman’s sister, Shafinaz Gulmoidan, had told this newspaper that her sister was returning home after spending the day with her observing Eid.
The woman and her husband had returned to Guyana for a funeral several months ago but due to COVID-19 travel restrictions they were unable to return to Venezuela.
Subrattie was a mother of three.
