ALMOST three months after being involved in a motorcycle accident which claimed the life of his pillion rider, Melroy Barnwell has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and with four other traffic offences.The 27-year-old Laing Avenue, Georgetown resident was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday, and pleaded not guilty to the first charge, which alleged that on June 20, at the Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he drove motorcycle CG 8485 in a dangerous manner, resulting in the death of 21-year-old Paulette Josiah.

The other charges he faces are driving without a licence, driving an unregistered motorcycle, driving an uninsured motorcycle, and driving a motorcycle which did not have a certificate of fitness in force.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, Barnwell pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and driving an unregistered motorcycle, but he pleaded not guilty to the other charges.

He was fined $60,000 or eight weeks’ imprisonment, and was granted $350,000 bail on the causing death charge. The case was adjourned to October 18, and the traffic-related offences were transferred to Court 7.

“It wasn’t my fault; I was in my lane,” Barnwell said when the magistrate asked if he had anything to say. He also pointed out that he had borrowed the motorcycle from his friend.

According to reports, on the day in question, Josiah was the pillion rider on a motorcycle being driven by Barnwell because he had opted to take the young mother home. While heading south at a fast rate on the eastern carriageway at Houston, Barnwell overtook a long line of traffic and collided with motor car PTT 6421. Barnwell allegedly tried to swerve from the vehicle, but lost control of his bike, which resulted in Josiah falling off.

Josiah and Barnwell were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Josiah succumbed to her injuries and Barnwell was admitted for further evaluation and treatment. Neither was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

A post-mortem conducted on Josiah’s body by Dr. Nehaul Singh indicated that the young woman died from multiple injures she received as a result of the accident: a fractured spine, hip and ribs, along with a ruptured liver and spleen.