At Providence court…
A 25-year-old father of two was yesterday granted $200,000 bail when he appeared in the Providence Magistrate’s Court charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

It is alleged that Christopher Vasconcellos was the driver of the car in which 15-year-old Onika Holder was travelling in when she died on Monday night near Grove, East Bank Demerara.

Vasconcellos, of 19 East Ruimveldt, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall.

Nandlall, in a bail application, told the court that his client has two minor children and is employed as an air-condition technician at Antartica of Alberttown.

He added that Vasconcellos has no previous convictions and has every intention to appear before the court to vindicate his innocence at the trial.

In addition, Nandlall said that he believes that it was appropriate for the police to seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in a case such as this before the institution of the charge. However, this was not done.

Onika Holder, of 135 Eastville Housing Scheme, Annandale, East Coast Demerara, died around 20:00 hrs Monday night after the car she was in smashed into a utility pole. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Two of the deceased girl’s siblings were injured in the mishap.