The police have received legal advice to charge Corporal Lawrence Carmichael with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving following the February 2nd accident which claimed the lives of Christopher Bhagwandat and his girlfriend, Sheereda Persaud on the Mahaica Bridge.
“Based on the statements contained in the police file, legal advice has been given for the police to institute the indictable charge for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving,” the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday said in a press statement.
The DPP’s Chambers said the file was received from the police on February 24 and returned yesterday with the legal advice.
According to the statement, the DPP has ordered that a preliminary inquiry (PI) be conducted since the charge is indictable.
Further, it said that the DPP has also instructed the police to conduct further investigations into the matter. The file is to be returned to the DPP’s Chambers by March 7th for further legal advice.
Bhagwandat, 21, and Persaud, 16, lost their lives on February 2 after the car which they were in was involved in a four-vehicle pile-up during a high-speed chase by the police.
The accident occurred around 11:00 hrs. At the time, Bhagwandat was the driver of a car, PNN 8852, which was being pursued by police vehicle PAB 3143 after he allegedly drove away despite being stopped at a police roadblock.
Corporal Carmichael was the driver of the police vehicle which was involved in the accident. He was accompanied by three other ranks: Constables Tucker, Johnson and Sam.
“According to Corporal Carmichael, as they were pursuing the vehicle on the Mahaica Bridge, the driver pulled right and collided with the force vehicle, which collided with the bridge rail and both the force vehicle and PNN 8852 collided with motor canter, GJJ 9151” which was proceeding in the opposite direction,” the police had explained.
Another motor car, PAB 8222 which was driven by Derick Dickson, 29, of New Amsterdam, Berbice and which was behind the canter also sustained damage as a result of the accident.
Surveillance footage of the accident has raised questions as to whether the police pursuit was warranted.
Following the accident, both the families of Persaud and Bhagwandat had said they are demanding answers and justice.
Bhagwandat’s mother, Shameeza Bhagwandat, previously told Stabroek News that her son had been murdered by the police. “I know my son was murdered. Because if them seh them stop him and he drive away I give him total wrong. But why they chasing him? They should have chased him and when he reach he distance and come out at he destination yuh coulda get him,” Shameeza said.
I ain’t frighten no police….I want justice for my son….The Commissioner of Police was here, the Commander was here, a lot of them was here and I told them everything. I need justice and they said they are looking into the matter,” she explained.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with this newspaper, an uncle of Sheereda Persaud, Tameshwar Persaud stated that he believed that the police acted unprofessionally.
During visits to the families, Hoppie had assured them that there will be an impartial investigation into the accident.
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn said the “requisite” reviews will be done as it relates to the accident.
It remains unknown why the police were pursuing Bhagwandat and if any protocols were breached by the police officers.
Questioned recently about this, Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie told reporters on the sidelines of an event that those details will be revealed during the probe. “That would come out in the investigation…..I just don’t want to pre-judge. That is why I asked for a thorough investigation to be conducted and all of those issues will be highlighted and come out in the investigation,” he had said.
