Lorry driver’s causing death case continues

Apr 23, 2018 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

The trial of lorry driver, Chetram Moonsammy, 46, of Johanna, Black Bush Polder, who is charged with 12 counts of causing death by dangerous driving is continuing in the Berbice High Court before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed jury.
The matter which suffered a one-week delay due to some legal challenges and administrative matters began with evidence being taken on Monday.
It is alleged that on Friday, October 29, 2010, Moonsammy drove motor lorry GLL 8863 in a manner dangerous to the public thus colliding with a mini bus BHH 1842 on the Number 19, East Coast Berbice Public Road.
Twelve people, died. Those identified among the dead were the minibus driver Odit Narine Babulall, 33, of Number 48 Village, Corentyne; Selma Razack, 23, of 104 Main Street, Cumberland, East Canje; Orlando De Mattos, 35, of Kildonan, Corentyne; Salima Juman, 40, of Burn Bush, East Canje; Marquest Ault, 14, of Rose Hall Town; Talita Mendonca, 21, of Kildonan Village; her infant son, Joseph Khan; Cindy Jaggernauth, 37, of Nigg Settlement, Corentyne;
Janet Baker, 42, of Number 19 Village, Corentyne, and Patricia Asgarally, 28, of Albion.
Four others were reportedly injured.
Attorney at Law Tuanna Hardy is representing the state while prominent attorney Mursalene Bacchus is appearing for Moonsammy.
When the matter continued on Tuesday Detective Sergeant Curtis Cort was called to the witness stand. The Detective Sergeant told the court that he is a crime scene investigator and Police Photographer.
He testified that on the day in question he arrived on the scene around 17:30 hrs and spoke with Deputy Superintendent Kevin Adonis who was the officer in Charge of Traffic in B Division. He also spoke with Sergeant Forbes Brown. He took a number of photographs of the scene including Lorry GLL 8863 and the mangled bus BHH 1842.
He also put some markings on the Susannah Public Road indicating the place and date of the accident. He subsequently went to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he observed 12 mutilated bodies. He also observed the Post Mortem examination conducted by Dr. Nehaul Singh. The 89 photographs were tendered into evidence.
Cross examination was deferred by Defence Attorney Mursalene Bacchus for another date.
When testimony began on Monday three persons testified. Tamika Mendonca, one of the survivors, testified to joining the ill-fated bus at Kildonan with her sister and her infant niece. She said that she was injured when the bus and truck collided.
She spoke of being taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital in a Canter truck with some others. She said it was raining and that the bus was speeding. She also denied that the bus was about to overtake another vehicle.
Police Inspector Michael Newland testified to being on the scene and assisting in removing bodies from the scene of the accident. The two were grilled by defence attorney Mursalene Bacchus.
Also giving testimony was retired Inspector Forbes Brown. Brown gave his testimony via Skype. At the time of the accident he was a sergeant and was in the traffic department. He detailed the part he played during the investigation.
Moonsammy was granted bail in the sum of $1.2M. The matter is continuing.

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