THE 24-YEAR-OLD unlicensed motorcyclist who caused the death of his reputed wife in a recent bike accident along the Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) road on Tuesday, has pleaded guilty to four traffic-related offences.
Two weeks ago, Laurent McGarrell of Golden Grove, EBD, appeared before city Magistrate Sunil Scarce, to answer to six other traffic- related charges, as a result of the accident which killed his wife Gaitri Sahadeo.

However, the magistrate had ordered that McGarrell be examined by a psychiatrist. He was charged with driving without a driver’s licence; driving without third-party insurance; driving without a safety helmet and driving the motorcycle without consent from the owner on July 23, 2017, at Providence.
He was also charged with driving the motorcycle while being under the influence of alcohol. He did not plead to the charge.

However, when the matter was recalled on Tuesday before Magistrate Scarce for the psychiatrist report to be heard, the court was told that the accused was fit to stand trial and was only ‘traumatised.’
The six charges were reread to McGarrell and he pleaded guilty to four of them.
McGarrell confessed to driving without a driver’s licence; driving without a third-party insurance; riding without a safety helmet; riding the motorcycle and carrying Sahadeo, who failed to wear a safety helmet.

The man was fined $30,000 each for being unlicensed and breach of insurance. He was also disqualified from holding/obtaining a driver’s licence for a year.
Additionally, he was fined $7,500 on the two remaining charges.
However, the accused denied taking the said motorcycle without the owner’s permission and riding it while he was intoxicated. The two matters have been adjourned until August 29 for the commencement of trial. He is currently out on $20,000 bail for the two offences.
McGarrell is currently out on $100,000 bail and is before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for causing his wife’s death by dangerous driving. Particulars of the charge alleged that McGarrell on July 23 at Providence, rode motorcycle, CJ 1957, in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Sahadeo.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 00:30hrs on the eastern carriageway of the Providence Public Road when the motorcycle suffered a blowout.
Sahadeo, who was the pillion rider and who was not wearing a helmet, reportedly sustained injuries to the head. She was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she succumbed.