Fox, son of the late minister within the Ministry of Education, Desiree Fox, yesterday appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Fox, 33, of 9 Echilibar Villas, Campbellville, pleaded not guilty to the charge which said, on December 8, 2009, at Thomas Road, Georgetown, he drove motorcar PKK 8875 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Desrey Fox.
The father of one was represented by attorney-at-law Mr. Leslie Sobers, who made a successful bail application, despite Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, asking the court to refuse bail for Fox.
Telford told the court he was objecting to bail because of the serious nature of the offence.
He said drivers have a duty to adhere to the laws of Guyana and that whenever a siren is sounded, a driver should stop his vehicle immediately.
Telford said if the defendant had exercised a bit more caution, the accident may not have happened and he would not have been in court answering this charge.
He mentioned, too, that the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is doing all it can to ensure that drivers use the roadways with care. Despite these efforts, Telford lamented, drivers are not exercising caution on the road.
The Prosecution is ready to proceed with this matter, Telford said.
Sobers, however, told the court that his client is already devastated by the fact that his mother died and now is even more devastated that he is charged with causing her death.
What is “bothersome” about this case, the lawyer said, is that Minister Fox was alive and conscious when she was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital following the accident.
The lawyer said the cause for the minister’s demise is yet to be determined. For example, he said it is yet to be discovered if the ambulance driver, or the hospital, is to be blamed for anything.
Sobers said his client intends to attend court so that he can be vindicated in this unfortunate case by means of the revelation of the facts.
He asked that Fox be released on his own recognizance because he has strong ties in the community and has no reason for not returning to court.
He argued, “This is his mother, not someone unattached to him. Should he go to prison because his mother died?”
Magistrate Robertson released Fox on $300,000 bail and the matter will be called again on May 18.