Businessman gets reduced sentence for causing death of four-year-old

May 30, 2018 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

The Court of Appeal yesterday reduced a four-year jail sentence imposed on businessman Tazim Gafoor in November 2014 for the death of four-year-old, Varshanie Seelall.

Varshanie Seelall

In 2014, Gafoor, of Lot 39-40 Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara was sentenced to the aforementioned term of imprisonment after he was found guilty of causing the death of Seelall, when he drove his motor pick-up, GKK 8838, dangerously along the Cotton Tree Public Road, on September 22, 2013.
Magistrate Rhondel Weaver, presiding at the Fort Wellington Court, West Coast Berbice, upheld the submissions of Police Prosecutor Corporal, Orin Joseph, who had earlier urged the Court to believe the testimonies of the witnesses, and return a verdict in keeping with the evidence.
The Court of Appeal in the ruling yesterday affirmed the conviction, but the sentence which was handed down by Magistrate Weaver was reduced to one year.
In his defence in the Magistrates’ Court, Gafoor had contended that a car had emerged from the nearby gas station, and had suddenly swung into his lane.
He further explained that another vehicle was parked at the entrance of the Cotton Tree Gas Station, forcing the car to move into his path.
However, Police Corporal Joseph said witnesses had revealed that on September 22, 2013, Gafoor was behind the wheel of the motor pick-up as he motored towards Georgetown.
The vehicle was travelling at a fast rate of speed, and as the motorist approached Cotton Tree, he lost control and collided with motor car PMM 8599, which was being driven in the opposite direction.
In the vehicle, four-year-old Varshanie Seelall was seated in the rear with her relatives.
As a result of the impact, the child received injuries to her head, and had to be taken to the Fort Wellington hospital, from where she was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she remained a patient in the Intensive Care Unit for eight days, before succumbing to the injuries on September 30.