After friend dies…
THE driver of the car which ended up in a ditch at Gangaram Settlement, East Canje, fatally injuring his friend last Monday, has been charged with causing the death by dangerous driving.

Dodnauth Bedessie, 23, of Number Two Village, faced the charge on Tuesday, following the demise of Satesh Parmanand, of Canefield, also in Canje.

Appearing before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo, at the New Amsterdam Court in Berbice, it was alleged that Bedessie was at the wheel of HB 3753 when the victim died.

The accused was not required to plea to the indictable charge and was granted $400,000 bail until December 16.

In her bail application, Defence Counsel Kim Kyte-John, while conceding that the offence is one of a serious nature, said there was no question of speeding.

According to the lawyer, Parmanand had activated the hand brake while the vehicle was in motion, resulting in it spinning around and landing in a drain.

Kyte-John said the accused had attempted to save Parmanand but failed.

Police Lance Corporal Roberto Figueira, prosecuting, had objected to pre-trial freedom for Bedessie, on the ground that the crime is prevalent and the latter was driving under the influence of alcohol, with 230 microgrammes in his system, for which he was prosecuted and fined.

Kyte-John urged the magistrate to adjudicate the case on its own circumstances, pointing out that the driving under the influence (DUI) charge was not before her.

A former magistrate, herself, Kyte-John said that, at a recent crime symposium, it was agreed unanimously that first offenders must not be sent to prison.