A ROUTE 45 minibus driver was last Wednesday sentenced to 58 months imprisonment by Magistrate Judy Latchman after he was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. The sentence was passed down in Court Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.The defendant Paul John of North Sophia, who struck and killed four-year-old Elijah Jayden Andrews of Queen Street, South Cummingsburg (Tiger Bay) had previously entered a not guilty plea to the charge which read that on April 4 at Water Street, in the vicinity of Giftland Office Max, he drove a bus in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Andrews. John was previously released on bail for the offence.
The court was told that on the day in question, the deceased was a pedestrian and John ran over him. The defendant picked up the injured toddler and took him to the hospital.
During the trial, a number of witnesses testified, including the mother of the deceased and two passengers who were in the bus at the time of the incident.
The magistrate found John guilty of the offence and told him that based on the evidence, it was clear that he drove the vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public, resulting in the death of the four year old.
The magistrate further explained that she had based her ruling on the 76 recorded road fatalities, which had already occurred this year between the periods of January-September and also the dozens of young children who had lost their lives in those crashes.
John’ s attorney made an application for his client to be released on bail pending an appeal in the High court. However it was denied.