AUBREY Barker, who was charged with causing the death of an eight-year-old girl last Friday, and for escaping from police custody, yesterday appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson to answer these charges.
Thirty-nine-year-old Barker, alias ‘Lloydee’, of 94 La Penitence Street, Albouystown, was not required to plead to the charges and was represented by attorney-at-law Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan.
Particulars of the first charge said, on June 4 last, at ‘B’ Field, Sophia Access Road, Greater Georgetown, he drove motor van GHH 939 in a manner dangerous to the public and thereby caused the death of eight-year-old Anuradha Dawan.
It is further alleged that, on the same day, being in lawful custody at Turkeyen Police Station, East Coast Demerara, for dangerous driving, he escaped.
Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, told the court that after the accident, Dawan was still alive and that the accused was held in custody pending an investigation of dangerous driving.
The Prosecutor said Barker asked to use the washroom while he was at the station and made good his escape once he was granted the opportunity.
He objected to bail on the ground that a young child’s life was lost, and he noted that the accused should have exercised more care, consideration, and caution as he was using the roadways.
Telford said it is unfortunate that the child never regained consciousness after she was taken to the hospital, and he asked the court to take cognizance of the fact that these types of offences are becoming more and more prevalent.
According to him, the accused never tried to assist the child after the incident occurred and hence this is a clear indication that he will flee the jurisdiction once granted pre-trial freedom.
Telford related that the deceased is a relative of the magistrate at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s court. This caused the magistrate there to recuse herself from the matter, he said.
Ramjattan said after the deceased was hospitalized, his client was arrested but later released by the officers.
He said Barker is a driver attached to Desinco Trading, and on the day in question, just after dropping home a staff member, the child ran into the minibus he was driving from behind another vehicle.
Ramjattan said his client picked up the child and took her to the hospital and was told while there that he could leave.
Barker was refused bail and will return at Vigilance court on June 10.