Daniel Melbourne, the 53-year-old driver who struck down Reonol Williams and later dumped his body in a trench two weeks ago, was yesterday remanded to prison after being slapped with six charges, including causing the man’s death.
Melbourne, 53, a musician of Middle Street, Ann’s Grove, East Coast Deme-rara, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, on the East Coast of Demerara and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In addition to being arraigned on the causing death by dangerous driving charge, Melbourne faced charges of failure to report an accident, failure to render assistance after an accident, failure to produce vehicle for examination, giving false information to the police and attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
In objecting to bail, Police Prosecutor David Goodridge highlighted the seriousness of the offence and related that the accused withheld vital information from investigators. He also noted the fact that Melbourne disposed of the body following the accident.
Meanwhile, attorney Patrice Henry, who represented Melbourne, made an application for bail in which he told the court that his client had been cooperative with the police. Henry also stated that his client, a father of three, had an “unblemished record” and was not a flight risk.
Magistrate Azore upheld the prosecutor’s objections and informed Melbourne that he would be remanded. His next court appearance is set for July 22.
Meanwhile, outside the courtroom Williams’s sister, Slyvie Williams, said while she was gravely disappointed at the inhumane treatment meted out to her brother, she was pleased with the work of the police.
“I am pleased with the actions of the police because I have recovered my brother’s body. That was what I wanted,” she said before adding that justice has to prevail.
She noted that if her brother was treated as a human being and taken to receive medical attention after he was struck, it is possible that he may have lived.
“He should have been human enough to carry my brother to the hospital because [my brother] has a right to the hospital care. He should’ve been alive…,” she lamented.
“It is not my place to condemn him…What I condemn is the act…God will forgive him. It is not me…but for now, for his actions, whatever law enforcement agency has taken, that is what he is going to bear,” the sister said as she was moved to tears outside the courtroom.
The bereaved sister added that for the past three weeks it has been difficult for her as she sometimes gets emotional. In the process of searching for her brother’s body, the woman said she experienced many sleepless nights and had not been able to eat properly.
“Right now I feel drained out. I feel like if I don’t have life ’cause this is almost three weeks now. I haven’t eaten properly, [I’ve had] sleepless nights… every now and then I get very emotional…,” she lamented.
The woman also said she understands that with Melbourne being held for the act, his mother must be under pressure and she sympathises with her.
“If anything happened to my son, I would feel it. I know how the parent is feeling but what could I do? It’s out of my hands now, it’s in the hands of the law enforcement agency,” she added.
On Tuesday last, 16 days after Reonol’s body went missing from an accident scene, Melbourne took investigators to the area where he dumped the man’s body.
In a story that has gripped the public’s attention, the decomposed body of Williams was found in a trench in the vicinity of the Coldingen Koker, on the East Coast Demerara. The body was found some distance away from the thoroughfare and could not have been easily spotted from the road by passersby.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Tuesday night told Stabroek News that Melbourne, while in custody admitted to the crime and detailed the events that transpired during the wee hours of May 23.
Reonol, called ‘Ram,’ was struck down by Williams along Enmore Estate Road. At the time, Williams was returning home after dropping off his younger sister in Georgetown. He was accompanied by a friend, Davis Peters, who witnessed the accident.
During interrogation, Melbourne told investigators from the Major Crimes Unit that he was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident and that the initial information he provided to the police about him being in the interior was false.
Blanhum said Melbourne told investigators that after he struck Williams, he placed him in his vehicle with the intention of taking him to the hospital. However, as he was driving, he observed him motionless and as a result he stopped his vehicle at a bridge along the Coldingen railway embankment and disposed of the body in the trench.
Subsequently, he abandoned his vehicle and took a taxi home. Upon arriving home, he told his mother that his vehicle was missing and she should inform the police.
He also told police that he acted alone.
Days after the accident, the car was found in Haslington, East Coast Demerara, with visible spots of blood and no number plates. A photograph taken by an eyewitness at the accident scene allowed traffic ranks to track down the driver.
Although Melbourne was picked out during an identification parade by an eyewitness, he was released on bail during the initial stages of the investigation.
Melbourne had claimed that he was not around at the time of the accident and his car had been stolen by a cousin.
For days, Williams’s family has been calling on the police to deepen their investigation but their pleas fell on deaf ears. At a meeting on Monday with acting Top Cop Clifton Hicken, a commitment was given for a thorough investigation.
While Williams’s body was in an advanced state of decomposition when it was found just after noon on Tuesday and DNA samples were collected for testing, his sister nonetheless managed to identify him based on the clothing he was last seen wearing.
An autopsy found that Reonol died from injuries consistent with an accident.
Reonol hails from Paramakatoi Village, Region Eight. He moved to Region Four some time ago to earn a living. He was described as a very jovial, helpful and hardworking individual.
