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UG student secures $550,000 bail for Mc Doom road death
Eighteen-year-old University of Guyana student, Priscilla Jagnandan, of 2811 Youth Place, South Ruimveldt Gardens, was yesterday placed on $550,000 bail by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson, after been slapped with multiple traffic charges ranging from causing death by dangerous driving to breaching insurance.
Priscilla Jagnandan
The teen’s stepfather was also charged and was placed on $75,000 bail.
It was alleged that Jagnandan, on May 9, on the Mc Doom Public Road, drove motor vehicle PKK 7639, in a dangerous manner and caused the death of Walter Wilson. She was not required to plead to the offence since it was indictable.
Another charge states that on May 9, at Mc Doom, she drove motor vehicle PKK 7639 with only a provisional license thus failing to be with an experienced driver. It was further alleged that Jagnandan on May 9, drove motor vehicle PKK 7639 and failed to clearly display two red “L” conspicuously on the vehicle as was required by law.
A third charge states that on May 9 at Mc Doom she drove motor vehicle PKK 7936 failing to have enforced insurance for third party risk. She pleaded not guilty to those three charges.
Her stepfather, Olatocumbo Sam, 40, a Technical Director at the Ministry of Education was also charged with breaching insurance.
It was alleged that on May 9, being the registered owner of the vehicle, he permitted Priscilla Jagnandan to use the said vehicle without having enforced insurance for third party risk.
Both Jagnandan and Sam were represented by attorney at law Glen Hanoman. In a bail application the lawyer stated that contrary to what the police are claiming Jagnandan had an experienced driver in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
The lawyer claimed that the investigating ranks told that person who was female that if she said that she was in the front seat she would have been charged.
Hanoman further stated that the charge of dangerous driving may not stand up because the pedestrian may have been at risk.
However Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith asked that bail denied on the dangerous driving charge and the matter to be transferred to the traffic court.
The prosecutor, rebutting Hanoman, said that the person who was in the vehicle at the time of the accident was seated in the back and the law clearly specifies that the experienced driver sit in the front seat.
She added that Jagnandan left the scene of the accident and only reported the matter a day after it happened.
The prosecutor explained that adults must be responsible when it comes to certain matters. She also disclosed to the court that the injured man had to be taken to the hospital in the defendant’s vehicle which was driven by a passerby.
However attorney at law Glen Hanoman interjected and stated that the decease was taken to the hospital by the defendant’s step father. He added that both defendants went to the police voluntary and the police demanded money from them.
The lawyer added that Jagnandan was treated and sent away from the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Prosecutor Griffith again interjected and told the court that neither Jagnandan nor her stepfather never took the deceased to the hospital and they did not report the accident within the stipulated time, thus making them liable to those charges.
Jagnandan was granted $400,000 bail on the causing death by dangerous driving charge, and placed on $50,000 for each of the other charges.
Her stepfather was placed on $75,000 bail for breaching insurance policy. They are both expected to make another court appearance on May 22, 2009.
On the eve of his brother’s wedding, 69-year-old Walter Wilson was killed on the Mc Doom Public road after he was struck by the defendant’s motor vehicle.
According to reports, Wilson, of Blueberry Hill, Linden, was attempting to cross the public road around 23:00 hrs after he had left his brother’s residence in Mc Doom.
He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died.
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