FOUR months after 64-year-old Ingrid James was struck down and killed by a motorcar while crossing the Herstelling Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), a 50-year-old man was on Thursday arraigned before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Businessman Cleveland Softleigh of Burnham Boulevard, Mocha, EBD, appeared before City Magistrate Judy Latchman for causing death by dangerous driving and was placed on $1M bail after denying the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Softleigh, on July 29 at the eastern carriageway of the Herstelling Public Road, drove motorcar PKK 3251 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of the elderly woman.

Attorney, Leslie Sobers represented Softleigh and made an application for reasonable bail. According to the facts read out in court by Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves, on the day in question, around 20:20hrs the defendant was driving his motorcar south along the western side of the eastern carriageway at a fast rate.

It is alleged that Softleigh’s car collided with the elderly woman as she was crossing the road and flung her some distance away onto the road. As a result, the left leg of the pedestrian was severed and she also sustained injuries to the head and body. She was taken to the Diamond Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

With no objection raised by the prosecutor, the magistrate released the businessman on bail and transferred the matter to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan’s court for December 5.