Forty-five-year-old Fitzroy Adams, of Lot 36 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool yesterday at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with motor manslaughter.
It is alleged that on Thursday, November 16, while on the Beterver-wagting public road, he drove his vehicle in such a way that he was incapable of maintaining proper control of it, thereby causing the death of Police Con-stable Annette Abel, 53.
Police prosecutor, Quincy Cummings, objected to bail citing that the defendant was no stranger to the present circumstance and depending on the condition of the other victim, Police Inspector Shenay Castello who is presently in the intensive care unit on life support, more charges will be laid against the defendant.
Magistrate Liverpool told the prosecution that a preliminary inquiry will have to be conducted.
Since the offence is indictable, Adams was not required to plead and was remanded to prison until December 15, for disclosure and fixture.
According to a police investigation, at about 22:00hrs on Thursday, a roadblock was being commanded by Woman Inspec-tor Shenay Castello, who is also Inspector in Charge of the Beterverwagting Police Station. She was assisted by Corporal 21289 Keshan Collins, Lance Corporal 21463 Jenella Jonas, Constable 25925 Abel, Constable 25124 Brian Tappin and Constable 24718 Wayne Daniels.
The police report reveal-ed that Constable Abel stopped motor cars, PAB 9932 (driven by a 30-year-old of Buxton, East Coast Demerara) and PNN 8124 (driven by a 24-year-old of North Better Hope, East Coast Demerara), which were proceeding west on the southern driving lane of the southern carriageway. Both vehicles pulled left and were stationary when a motor Jeep, PVV 8278, was observed proceeding in the same direction and lane at a fast rate. The vehicle approached the traffic light signal situated at the junction of Republic Drive, Beterver-wagting and the East Coast Highway. At the time, the traffic signal was showing red in the direction of PVV 8278 but the driver drove through the red-light signal, colliding with the traffic cones which were at the centre of the road as part of the roadblock operation.
PVV 8278 which apparently had lost control, rammed Constable Abel into motor car PAB 9932 which then collided with motor car PNN 8124. Vehicle PNN 8124 then spun hitting Inspector Castello. Castello and a driver, Chris Allen, were all flung into the air. Abel, who was also flung in the air, landed about 20 feet away on the road surface with her left foot from below the knee severed. Inspector Castello and Allen landed on the southern grass parapet with both sustaining injuries about their bodies. Meanwhile, PVV 8278 turned over on the southern parapet. The Emergency Medical Tech-nicians were summoned and Constable Abel was pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of PVV 8278 also suffered injuries, and along with Inspector Castello, were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit where they are receiving medical attention.
