Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Dangerous driving lands GDF officer in jail
…lawyer pleads for monetary penalty
Lieutenant Antonio Eastman
Guyana Defence Force Lieutenant, Antonio Eastman, was jailed for 36 months after he was found guilty of causing the death of his colleague, Lieutenant Ronald Gonsalves by dangerous driving.
The prison term was handed to him by City Magistrate Judy Latchman, on Tuesday, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Eastman on November 1, last, drove motor car PMM 6019, in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby killing Gonsalves.
According to reports, Eastman and Gonsalves were occupants of the car that was heading South on Mandela Avenue.
Eastman who was the driver of the vehicle at the time, reportedly swerved from hitting another car. As a result he lost control, of his vehicle which was not in the right lane and crashed into a Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL)’s utility pole on the other side of the road.
Gonsalves succumbed at a city hospital while receiving medical treatment for injuries he sustained in the vehicular accident.
During the summing up of the evidence the Magistrate told the defendant that she believed he drove in a dangerous manner on the day in question. She stated that she also believed that the vehicle was travelling at high speed.
The Magistrate pointed out that the defendant was inattentive on the roadway and fell below the competence of a careful driver.
Before handing down her sentencing, Magistrate Latchman took into consideration all mitigating factors. She also pointed to the fact that the defendant assisted with taking the now dead Gonsalves to the hospital and fully co-operated with the police.
However, the Magistrate said that based on the prevalence of the offence she was imposing the sentence.
During the trial, Police Prosecutor, Vishnu Hunte, had called several witnesses to testify in the case.
A postmortem report tendered to the court revealed that Gonsalves died of multiple injuries, including a ruptured liver, and fractures to the spine and skull.
Eastman’s Attorney, Leslie Sobers, pleaded with the Magistrate to impose a monetary penalty based on the custodial circumstances his client is facing.
Sobers said that his client is a serving member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). He added that the young man, who swore his life to the country, did not know that his friend would have lost his life that day.
He further explained that his client has a good driving record and no previous conviction. He contended that Eastman harboured genuine shock.
The Attorney pleaded with the Magistrate to take into consideration that his client is still young and that he was also injured in the accident.
After the Magistrate informed the court of her guilty ruling the Attorney reminded the court that his client is still left with the burden of his colleague’s death.
Sobers pointed out that the situation did not involve alcohol, the road was not crowded and it had no speed humps.
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