GDF driver gets $1M bail for causing death of pensioner

Aug 25, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

A rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was yesterday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, and ordered to post $1M bail for causing the death of an elderly pedal cyclist.

Charged: Zamani Archibald

Twenty-four-year-old Zamani Archibald, a Lance Corporal, of Manchester, East Berbice denied the charge which alleged that on March 11 at Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he drove motor pick-up DFB 1566 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Harry Persaud.
According to reports, on the day in question, Persaud, a pensioner, of Lot 7 Public Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, was taking his one-year-old granddaughter for a ride on his pedal cycle along the East Bank Demerara Highway when Archibald, who was driving motor-pickup DFB 1566, which belongs to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), collided with them.
Reports indicated that Persaud and his granddaughter were both picked up by Archibald and taken to the Diamond Regional Hospital, where Persaud was pronounced dead on arrival. His granddaughter was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was treated and sent away.
Archibald will make his next court appearance on August 30.