FORMER Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) driver Shawn Ravindra Ramai of Lot 15 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown was yesterday sentenced to 60 months imprisonment by City Magistrate Judy Latchman on a causing death by dangerous driving charge. He was, after a trial, found guilty of all the charges laid against him. One charge detailed that on February 26, 2014, he drove motor pick-up PRR 292 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Claude McPherson.
The other three charges detailed that, on the same day, having been involved in an accident, he failed to render assistance by failing to take the injured person to a medical practitioner. He also failed to stop the vehicle after the accident, and he failed to report the said accident within 24 hrs of its occurrence.
He was fined $30,000 for each of the three charges, with an alternative of one month’s imprisonment should he fail to pay the charges after his conviction.
Ramai had made his first court appearance before City Magistrate Judy Latchman on March 6, 2014, and had been granted bail after denying the charges. He had been placed on $2M bail for the causing-death charge, and $30,000 bail each for all the other charges.
The matter was prosecuted by Police Inspector Vishnu Hunt operating from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The defence was led by attorney-at-law Mr. Fazil Azeez.
During the trial, a number of witnesses had been called to testify, including Police witnesses and civilians.
During her ruling, Magistrate Latchman described the convict as not a skilled and competent driver. She took into consideration the mitigating factors of Ramai being married and being the sole breadwinner of his family, which were raised by the defence lawyer.
Before handed down the jail term, The Magistrate also considered the prevalence of road fatalities.

Subsequent to the sentencing, Ramai’s lawyer gave oral notice of appeal in the matter. He further requested bail for his client, which was opposed by the prosecution and denied by Magistrate Latchman.

By Geeta Rampersaud