Driver on $1M bail for causing death of key witness

By Rabindra Rooplall

TAXI driver Jamar Norville of Lot 92 Sussex Street, Albouystown and Lot 427 Schoonard Public Road, West Bank Demerara was on Tuesday arraigned before Sparendaam Magistrate Zamilla Ali-Seepaul, accused of causing the death of 40-year-old Osmond Griffith of Durban Backlands, Georgetown, a key witness in the ongoing ‘Freddie Kissoon faeces-throwing’ trial.

Apparently confused, the 27-year-old represented by attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson was read a charge which alleged that on Friday, September 2nd, 2016, at the Industry Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD), he drove motor car HC 4399 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Griffith.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, but was granted bail in the sum of $1M.

As regards a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, the magistrate said the accused, on the Industry Railway Embankment, ECD, drove motor car HC 4399 while his breath/alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. He was granted bail in the sum of $50,000., with the attached condition that he submits his passport to the police and reports to the Sparendaam Police Station every Friday at 17:00hrs.

The matter was adjourned to September 30, 2016 at the Sparendaam Court.
Norville’s lawyer had earlier told the court that his client has a fixed place of abode at 427 Schoonard Public Road, West Bank Demerara; is unmarried and has no children, but is employed at Cyril’s Taxi Service. He also has no previous convictions and no pending matters; had been kept in custody since Friday last; and, on the night of the allegation, had two passengers in his vehicle and was working at the time.

In asking for reasonable bail, the attorney said the accused was prepared to lodge his passport and report to the police, while noting that he was not at a flight risk.

The prosecutor told the court that the Police Traffic and Criminal Investigation departments were jointly investigating the matter; and that, on the first occasion, the taxi driver had told police that someone had placed a gun to his head and ordered him to commit the act. The accused then changed his story, indicating that he was speeding when he hit the deceased.

That story was again changed, the prosecutor said, and the Police Commissioner had ordered that CID and the Traffic Department work on the case.

The prosecutor then objected to bail on ground that the accused may not return to court, since his lawyer gave one address for him and he gave two addresses to the police; the second address being Lot 92 Sussex Street, Albouystown.

The prosecutor noted that the taxi driver and two occupants of his vehicle had been drinking at the popular Guinness Bar, and this would be shown on the breathalyzer test. He said this had been confirmed by the occupants of the vehicle, whom he had picked up to take home.

The prosecutor noted that the accused had been driving motor car HC 4399, proceeding west along the Industry Railway Embankment Public Road at a fast rate of speed when he collided with motor car PJJ 8028, which had been stationary on the southern side of the corridor.

Griffith, who was standing on the southern side of the corner of the carriageway, was hit, and suffered injuries to his head, hand, foot and other parts of his body. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital by police ranks, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The accused was not at the scene when the police arrived, but acting on information, the police visited a house at the University of Guyana Road and arrested the accused.

The prosecutor said the file was incomplete, but it would be completed following advice from the DPP.