Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 29, 2010 News
Acting Chief Magistrate, Melissa Robertson, refused to grant bail to two men who were involved in an accident on Tuesday night that claimed the life of 11-year-old Austin Lashley.
The men, Desmond De Souza, 53, of 3330 South Ruimveldt Gardens, and Pharell Carpenay, 25, of 41 High Street, were not required to plead to the indictable offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
It was alleged that on May 26, both men drove their motor vehicles in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of 11-year-old Austin Lashley.
A second charge stated that the men damaged one traffic light installation on the Rupert Craig Highway. They both pleaded not guilty to the charge.
A separate charge stated that Carpenay, on May 26, drove his motor car while under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His lawyer Senior Counsel, Bernard De Santos, in a bail application told the court that his client owns and operates a music shop.
De Santos said that Carpenay had an unblemished record. He added that it is an understatement to say that his client was a flight risk. “My client has a reputable business and would not evade the law.”
He asked that the court should take into consideration that the officer who took the breathalyzer test showed that the results were not over the legal limit.
The lawyer said that he was very surprised that his client was charged for drunk driving. De Santos said that it was the other vehicle that drove into the path of his client.
He added that the charge which relates to the damage of the traffic light must have been a recent addition to the law.
The lawyer admitted that he knows his client has to pay for the lights, but it should not be an offence.
Now it was time for attorney at law, Patrice Henry, who represented De Souza to address the court.
Henry said that his client was a taxi driver with an unblemished record. He argued that there was no basis for the court to deny his client bail.
The Magistrate nevertheless remanded the men and ordered them to make their next court appearance on Monday.
On Tuesday morning, 11-year-old Austin Ashley and his family were heading home from the Flag Raising Ceremony at the National Park when the accident occurred in the vicinity of Sheriff Street and the Rupert Craig Highway East Coast Demerara.
Lashley’s sisters, 14-year-old Alana and eight-year-old Ackenette, as well as his mother, 35-year-old Pauletta Lashley were all injured.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
Apr 18, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been named Wisden’s leading Twenty20 Cricketer for 2023, as she topped all and sundry, including her male counterparts. Alan Gardner looks...Kaieteur News – Compliments of the Ministry of Education, our secondary school children are being treated to a stage... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]