POLICE Constable Timothy Horatio was on Friday released on $300,000 bail by city magistrate Leron Daly after spending almost two weeks on remand on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Horatio made his second court appearance before Magistrate Daly after he crashed a Route 40 (Kitty/ Campbellville) minibus into a utility pole on Regent Street, which claimed the life of a minibus passenger and left three others injured.
Horatio, 26, of Stone Avenue, Campbellville, during his first court appearance pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on August 28, he drove minibus BPP 7944 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Dillon Linton, 21, also of Stone Avenue, Campbellville.
Horatio’s attorney Darren Wayne in his bail application noted that Horatio is a police officer, a father of three small children and is the neighbour of the deceased, pointing out that they had a very close friendship.
According to the lawyer, Horatio also covered the funeral expenses of Linton and that he regrets the loss of life. The magistrate granted the police officer bail which was met with no objection by the police prosecutor. The matter was adjourned until September 30 for statements. It was reported that the speeding minibus being driven by Horatio slammed into a post before overturning on Regent Street, resulting in the death of Linton.
Linton reportedly sustained multiple injuries and died hours later while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was reportedly sitting in the back seat of the minibus when it crashed.
According to reports the constable, a part- time minibus driver, was racing with another minibus around 20:00hrs on the day in question, when he tried to avoid hitting a motorcyclist who was heading in the opposite direction. He was however unable to avoid the collision and ended up losing control of the vehicle.
The minibus reportedly toppled several times before smashing into a utility pole and finally coming to a stop at the wall of a Regent Street store, ‘Curtains and Draperies.’
