Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
Bus driver charged with five counts of causing death
Homestretch Avenue accident…
“You are refused bail taking into consideration the nature, gravity and seriousness of this epidemic in society, and the court ought to send a very strong message,” Magistrate Hazel Octive Hamilton told bus driver Jermaine Jackson, yesterday, moments before he made his way to Camp Street prison, where he will remain until September 9, his next court date.
Jackson, who reportedly lost control of the minibus he was driving along Homestretch Avenue on Monday, last, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, and was charged with five counts of causing death – indictable matters to which he is not required to plead.
The charges stated that on July 18 at Homestretch Avenue he drove minibus, BMM 9888, in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the deaths of Erica La Cruz, Crazel Paul, Junior Duncan, Elron Peter Mc Clennon and Coretta Benjamin.
The 29-year-old stood unresponsive on the dock and avoided making eye contact with anyone in the courtroom. Jackson was represented by Attorney at Law James Bond.
The lawyer avowed that his client was a former member of the Guyana Defence Force, and that when he (Jackson) was apprehended by the police ranks on the day of the incident he gave them both his Georgetown and Berbice addresses. Bond also declared that his client was not speeding at the time of the accident.
Police Prosecutor Corporal James objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence and stated that more charges are likely to arise. The prosecutor also said that there is a likelihood that the accused will not return to court since no address was given to the police.
As the accused was exiting the courtroom he heard remarks from several curious individuals such as, “if I was de magistrate yuh woulda rot in jail” and “dem does be too wild, people like dem should get lost away”. The accused did not utter a word.
It was not evident that relatives of the victims were present in court, but many of Jackson’s family members who were, followed him on his way out of the courtroom, voicing their words of encouragement.
Jermaine Jackson
On the evening tragedy struck, the victims were travelling in a route 48 minibus, which had left Sophia, when the vehicle reportedly suffered a blowout shortly after overtaking another bus on Homestretch Avenue. The bus toppled several times. Many of the passengers were hurled through windows onto the roadway.
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