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A MINI-BUS driver, convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, was sentenced to five years imprisonment yesterday by Magistrate Judy Latchman.
Thirty-year-old Kevin Hope, of Lot 12 ‘M’ Lamaha Springs, Georgetown, had pleaded not guilty to having on November 15, 2011, along Aubrey Barker Road, driven BNN 9334 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of 40-year-old Patrice ‘Mitch’ Welcome, of Lot 1270 Cane View Avenue, also in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Police Sergeant Vishnu Hunt, prosecuting, told the Court the accused was driving along the northern side of Aubrey Barker Road at a fast rate when he started to overtake two cars and, consequently, collided with motorcycle CJ 197 which was proceeding West on the southern side.
Due to the collision, Welcome fell on the road, suffered traumatic head injuries and was, later, pronounced dead.
Previously, Hope had been granted $200,000 bail when he first appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on November 17, 2011 prior to the case being transferred to Magistrate Latchman for the trial which lasted some time.
Defence counsel Omeyana Hamilton, in a plea of mitigation, said Hope has no previous convictions and what happened truly meets the definition of an accident.
However, before sentencing the convict, the magistrate emphasised the need to preserve one of the world’s most precious resources, human life.
She noted that was lost by Hope’s failure to practise road safety dutifully and also considered the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.
Thirty-year-old Kevin Hope, of Lot 12 ‘M’ Lamaha Springs, Georgetown, had pleaded not guilty to having on November 15, 2011, along Aubrey Barker Road, driven BNN 9334 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of 40-year-old Patrice ‘Mitch’ Welcome, of Lot 1270 Cane View Avenue, also in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Police Sergeant Vishnu Hunt, prosecuting, told the Court the accused was driving along the northern side of Aubrey Barker Road at a fast rate when he started to overtake two cars and, consequently, collided with motorcycle CJ 197 which was proceeding West on the southern side.
Due to the collision, Welcome fell on the road, suffered traumatic head injuries and was, later, pronounced dead.
Previously, Hope had been granted $200,000 bail when he first appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on November 17, 2011 prior to the case being transferred to Magistrate Latchman for the trial which lasted some time.
Defence counsel Omeyana Hamilton, in a plea of mitigation, said Hope has no previous convictions and what happened truly meets the definition of an accident.
However, before sentencing the convict, the magistrate emphasised the need to preserve one of the world’s most precious resources, human life.
She noted that was lost by Hope’s failure to practise road safety dutifully and also considered the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.
