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Corentyne causing death driver released on $600,000 bail
…victim’s relatives furious
The speeding driver who struck down and killed 18- year- old Reena ‘Asha’ Devi Singh along the Letter Kenny Public
On Bail: Andrew Johnson
Road last Sunday evening, was yesterday released on $600,000 bail after his first court appearance before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.
He wasn’t required to plead. He will return to court on October 6, 2014.
Relatives and villagers started to murmur after Magistrate Singh granted bail to 20- year- old Andrew Johnson of Lot 338 Number 51 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
Johnson was represented by Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Ryan Crawford who pleaded for “a reasonable amount” of bail on behalf of his client. Police Prosecutor Sgt. Phillip Sherrif, objected.
Crawford had argued that bail be granted given that his client is only 20 years old, “single, [has] no children, lives with his grandmother, is a painter, was never charged and was never arrested,” prior to this incident.
Magistrate Singh, granted bail in the sum of $600,000 under three conditions: that Johnson’s license is suspended and lodged at the Whim Police Station; that he lodge his passport at the police station; and that he refrain from driving any vehicle.
Additionally, Johnson has to report to the Number 51 Police Station every Friday at 16:00 hrs.
Singh’s family was dissatisfied with the Magistrate’s decision. They now want an immediate intervention from the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee.
“That (the decision) is only for today in front of the family, for his family to feel good…that his license has been suspended, but you watch and see, next week he is going to be on the road again to hit somebody again!”
On Sunday around 18:00 hrs, irate residents torched Johnson’s vehicle, PMM 3080, after the road accident. Singh had just got off a minibus when she was struck down by the Toyota car. She was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
According to reports, Johnson was about to overtake another vehicle when he struck the teen. Eyewitness Ramdatt Singh recalled that he saw Singh crossing the road, “and the car come full speed, hit the girl and swerve into the trench,” on the southern side of the road.
The man said that the teen was hurled some two hundred feet away from the point of impact. He then saw persons, including the speeding driver of the car, picking up the motionless girl. Another eyewitness said that the driver went to Singh and placed his hands on her neck, apparently to check her pulse.
Angry relatives and villagers in front of the court yesterday after the Magistrate handed down his decision.
“We want Rohee! We want Rohee! And we will go to the opposition! The man ain’t get no charge for anything— just they take he license and passport!” another relative added.
Speaking to the media in front of the Whim Police Station after the court matter, one of Johnson’s relatives said, “The Magistrate has the authority to grant bail and once the offence is bailable.”
“It’s a loss of life, and anybody who lost a life can feel pain. I am not saying what my nephew did was right…We are in solidarity, because it is a life, but if the court is to be filled with dangerous drivers, there won’t be space!”
When asked whether the family had visited the Singhs to meet and talk with them, she questioned, “Would you go to a family who torched a car, and raised a pick- axe? Would you go?”
A post mortem performed yesterday at the Skeldon Hospital on the body by Government Pathologist Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan concluded that she died of multiple injuries.
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