By Rabindra Rooplall

DAYS after crashing into a 10-year-old boy and killing him, Police Constable Ravinand Bissessar appeared before Magistrate, Clive Nurse at the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and causing death by dangerous driving.It is alleged that on May 15 at Sisters’ Village, West Bank Demerara, Bissessar was driving motor car PLL 222 when he struck down Davin Sealey, who was riding a bicycle at the time, resulting in the boy’s death.

The 26-year-old constable was represented by Attorney-at-Law, Mark Conway.

In making a bail application, the attorney said Bissessar, who is employed as a policeman, was hospitalized after the accident and was in the custody of the police without restraints and had ample opportunity to have fled, if that was his intention.

The attorney explained that his client was very remorseful and prior to the accident he had no issues with the law and there is no need for him to be evasive with the court. The lawyer then requested bail in a reasonable amount, since a policeman’s salary is not much.

The prosecution did not object to bail, but conditions were attached. It was requested that Bissessar’s driver’s licence be suspended pending the outcome of the proceedings, as he will be interdicted from duty. He is to report to the Wales Police Station once per week, preferably on Friday’s.

He was not required to plead to the causing death by dangerous driving charge and was placed on $600,000 bail.

Meanwhile, the magistrate upon reading the DUI charge stated that Bissessar on Sunday, May 15th , 2016 on Sister’s Village Public Road was driving motor vehicle PLL 222, while his alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. The police constable then pleaded guilty as the packed courtroom began to murmur, causing the magistrate to request silence in court.

According to the prosecution, on the day of the accident the police constable was subjected to a breathalyzer test, which indicated he was over the prescribed limit for the consumption of alcohol and was told of the offence committed and warned of impending prosecution.

Attorney-at-Law Conway in giving a rebuttal, stated that his client was actually not guilty. The magistrate then turned to Bissessar and asked him twice if he agreed with the facts stated by the prosecution pertaining to the DUI charge, to which he objected.

His lawyer then explained that when the police constable visited the hospital a test was done by a doctor, which showed that there was no alcohol in his system. When the magistrate requested the evidence, the lawyer replied that it would be produced at a later date. Based on the explanation given, the magistrate changed the plea of guilty to DUI to not guilty and ordered a trial. He was the placed on self-bail.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that Sealey was riding a bicycle along the roadway when he was struck down by a motor vehicle that was driven by the constable.

The car only came to a stop after hitting a parked vehicle on the roadway and slamming into a utility pole before turning turtle. The lad’s grandfather, Titus Thomas, 57, told the Guyana Chronicle that they needed justice because the policeman is supposed to set an example and cannot be drunk and driving at such a fast rate to hit a child and kill him on the spot.