– as magistrate dismisses charge in 2018 fatal accident case

MAGISTRATE Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, on Friday, upheld a no-case submission made by Attorney-at-Law, Jerome Khan, dismissing a charge against Karan Singh for Causing Death by Dangerous Driving, the lawyer said in a release.

The matter was heard at Leonora Magistrate’s Court. The charge against Karan Singh, stemmed from an accident that occurred on September 24, 2018, at the Cornelia Ida Public Road, West Coast Demerara, the release continued.

According to Khan, Singh was heading east around 08:40hrs, when a pedestrian ran across the road from the southern parapet to reach the northern carriageway.
Khan said evidence during the trial revealed that Singh made an effort to avoid hitting the deceased, Realino Santiago, a 71-year-old male. After the accident Singh came to a stop rendering assistance and took the victim to the Leonora Cottage Hospital and then made a report at the Leonora Police Station.

According to Khan, at the time of the accident, Karan Singh was a 21-year-old welding student at the Technical Institute. Defence Counsel, Jerome Khan, argued that the Prosecution failed to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Karan Singh drove above the speed limit, in a dangerous or reckless manner and that his driving was a danger to himself and the public at large. Defence Counsel also argued that no evidence was led to show that Karan Singh did not exercise care, caution, common-sense and consideration while driving.