‘Cyclist swerved into my path’

Sep 22, 2017 News

…says soldier charged with causing death

Zamani Archibald, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal who is accused of killing a cyclist in an accident, told Police (Detective) Corporal Winston Singh, that the cyclist swerved into the vehicle he was driving twice despite him sounding the horn.

Zamani Archibald

It is alleged that on March 11, at Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara, Archibald, 24, of East Canje, Berbice drove motor pick-up DFB1566 in a manner dangerous to the public and killed Harry Persaud.
He was released on $1M bail; but still remains on remand having not been able to post the hefty sum. Archibald is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Leslie Sobers.
Corporal Singh, during his testimony, told the court that on March 13, last, about 14:10hrs he contacted Archibald at the Timehri Police Station Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the presence of another police rank.
The police witness said that he told Archibald of the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
According to Corporal Singh, “I cautioned (Archibald) in accordance to the judge’s rule…He (Archibald) replied that (Persaud) swerved into his path and that he blow his horn on him (Persaud).
“The man swerve again and I hit him down.”
Corporal Singh told the court that the soldier refused to give a written statement and he made an entry to that effect in the station diary.
Also testifying was Police Constable Christopher Persaud, a photographer stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters.
Earlier on in the trial Balwatt Persaud, the son of the deceased, told the court that on March 15, he visited the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary where he identified the body of his father.
Led by Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt, the witness recounted that he identified the body to Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh.
He said that his father’s remains were cremated on the West Coast Demerara.
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 the defendant who was driving motor-pickup DFB 1566 which belongs to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) hit them off the bicycle.
Persaud and his granddaughter were both picked up by the defendant and taken to the Diamond Regional Hospital, where Persaud was pronounced dead on arrival.
His granddaughter was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was treated and sent away.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News