TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD, Odida Underwood of Lot 197 Guyhoc Park, Georgetown was found guilty for being an unlicensed driver, and on Friday was convicted for the death of former Chief Librarian, Gillian Thompson, which resulted from an accident that occurred last Christmas Eve Day at the corner of Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and North Road in Georgetown.

Magistrate Fabayo Azore sentenced Underwood to five years imprisonment.

Three days after that fatal accident, Underwood appeared before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer charges of causing death by dangerous driving, being an unlicensed driver, driving a vehicle without the consent of the owner, and driving without third party risk insurance.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge that, on December 24 last, (Christmas Eve), he drove motor car PPP 8655 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Gillian Thompson.

Underwood had, however, pleaded guilty to the other three charges before the Chief Magistrate on his first appearance, and was fined a total of $85,000.

The second charge detailed that on the same day, he drove without being the holder of a driver’s licence. The third allegation stated that he drove the vehicle when it was not insured for third party risk, while the fourth charge stated that he had taken and driven the vehicle without the consent of its owner.

The prosecution’s facts were that on the day in question, Underwood was proceeding north along Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, but when he approached the intersection at North Road, he failed to stop, thus colliding with the left front side of a van.

The Librarian was seated in the front seat of the van, which then collided with a concrete culvert. As a result, she reportedly received injuries, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Underwood was represented by attorney-at-law, Mr. Adrian Thompson, and the matter was transferred before Magistrate Azore for trial.

(Geeta Rampersaud)