MINIBUS driver Fitzroy Alder, 38, of Lot 36 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who has been tried for causing death by dangerous driving, will know his fate on September 28 when he stands before city magistrate Ann McLennan.The defendant, being the driver of minibus BTT 3835, is alleged to have driven the vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public on July 17 at Durban Street, thereby causing the death of pedestrian Romel Junor.

Alder was yesterday given three options — to lead his defence, to give sworn testimony, or to take the stand and give his version of the story. Taking the stand and being under cross-examination, Alder told the court that he has been a minibus driver since 2006, and is aware that the speed limit at the area where the accident occurred is 50 kph.

He also stated that he had left the Georgetown Park at about 21:15 hrs, and did not made any stops before the accident.

Alder had denied the allegation that he had caused the death of Junor by dangerous driving when he first appeared before Magistrate McLennan and was denied pretrial liberty.

On that occasion, police prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones had informed the court that, on the day in question, the defendant was driving the minibus proceeding at a fast rate along the northern side of Durban Street. He said that when the bus reached the intersection of Durban and Lime Streets, it collided with the sixty-year-old man, who was crossing the road at the time.
Jones said the impact of the collision pitched Junor several feet away. He was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Junor had just left a popular bar in the area with a female companion in ‘high spirits’ as the minibus was speeding along the route.

The pedestrian was pitched some 15 feet away from the collision spot, and lay bleeding on the street for a while before he was transported to the hospital by the driver of the minibus.
(Geeta Rampersaud)