Mr. Sase Gunraj, lawyer for Farood Mohammed who was charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving, yesterday asked Magistrate Priya Beharry to again adjourn the matter to facilitate the presence of his client, who is still hospitalised.

Mohammed (no address given), allegedly the driver of the motor car in which three people were killed on Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara, last Friday morning, appeared in court later that day but the charges were not read to him because the lawyer said that he was slipping in and out of consciousness.

On the last occasion, Mohammed appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson and Gunraj had requested that the charges not be read until his physical condition improved.

Gunraj told the Magistrate yesterday that Mohammed is still hospitalised because he took a turn for the worse. He then presented to the court a letter from the Hospital.

But the Magistrate informed Gunraj that the letter only states that Mohammed is a patient at the hospital, mentioning nothing about his inability to attend court.

Magistrate Beharry told the lawyer that he needed to provide the court with a proper medical certificate.

Police Inspector Denise Griffith, prosecuting, did not object to the adjournment, but informed the court that Mohammed was treated at the Diamond, East Bank Demerara hospital and sent away.

She said he was then taken to the Woodlands hospital and was supposed to stay for two days. However, he apparently suffered head injuries and needed to spend more time in hospital.

The case was put off until today when the charges are expected to be read to Mohammed.

On the previous occasion, Defence Counsel asked that, because of his physical condition, Mohammed be released into the custody of a hospital, where the Police can post a guard.

The lawyer had remarked that the Guyana Police Force used to have a doctor in its employ, but now only has a veterinary surgeon, and he did not wish Mohammed’s blood to rest upon his shoulders or that of the Prosecution.

But Griffith declared that what Gunraj said about a doctor and a vet was an insult to the GPF.

She said that the police have three qualified medical practitioners and there is no need to take Mohammed to a vet because he is not an animal.

The Prosecutor had mentioned, too, that if Mohammed was not fit for the charges to be read to him, he would have to remain in custody and receive help from Police doctors.