Motorist jailed two years for causing cyclist’s death

Aug 15, 2018 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Ramanand Jagdeo of Lot 1336 Section C Block Y, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara was yesterday sentenced to two years in jail, after being found guilty on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

JAILED: Ramanand Jagdeo

Jagdeo was convicted of the offence by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan who expressed that it was clear from the evidence presented that the reckless manner in which Jagdeo drove resulted in the death of Alexander Appiah, who was struck down on February 22, at Peter’s Hall Public Road, East Bank Demerara.
At the time of the accident, Jagdeo was driving motorcar PRR 4395.
It was the prosecution’s case that Jagdeo was driving the car, proceeding south along the eastern carriageway of Peter’s Hall, Public Road, EBD, when he collided with the pedal cyclist who was riding in the same direction.
The court heard that the left side front of the car hit the cyclist, hurling him from his bike and causing him to fall onto the roadway. As a result of the impact of the collision, the cyclist’s right leg was severed.
The injured man was then picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted a patient. He later died.
During his trial, Jagdeo opted to give unsworn testimony. He had claimed that it was the cyclist who rode into his vehicle.
According to Jagdeo, on the day in question, he was heading home to Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, and en route, he stopped on the Back Road to pick up some items. He told the court that he then drove to Alexander Village, Georgetown, where he met his brother.
Afterwards, Jagdeo said he drove to M&M Snackette from where he bought some roti. He said that while heading along the East Bank Demerara Public Road in the vicinity of Peter’s Hall, he saw several persons walking on the left hand side of the road.
“Suddenly, I saw a bicycle coming over the road to my lane. I suddenly pulled brakes and when I stopped and came out of my vehicle, a set of people flocked me and started beating me. They began cuffing me to my face and my head and stole my money,” Jagdeo recalled.
Jagdeo told the court that sometime after, police ranks arrived at the scene and escorted him to the Providence Police Station.
A now convicted Jagdeo, who was represented by Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-a-Fat, had been out on $1M bail pending trial. The case for the prosecution was presented by Police Inspector Neville Jeffers.

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