THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), on Monday, instructed the police to institute charge for the offence of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving on Police Corporal, Lawrence Carmichael, who was the driver behind the wheel of the Force’s vehicle which was in pursuit of a young couple at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

Initial reports indicated that, on February 02, Christopher Bhagwandat, 20, of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), the driver of the motor car PNN 8852 and his girlfriend, Sheereda Persaud, 16, of Bath, West Coast Berbice, were attempting to flee the police, who initially stopped them for a routine inspection.

In the vicinity of the Mahaica Bridge, the motor car collided with a canter truck, which was travelling in the opposite direction, and the police vehicle crashed into the car immediately after. As a result of the impact, the truck toppled onto another car.

Added to the fatalities, three law enforcement ranks, including a female officer were injured. The occupants of the second car are said to be Derrick Dickson, 29, his wife and two children, aged eight and two years old.

Omesh Persaud, 46, of Leguan, Region Three, was the driver of the canter truck. He was the lone occupant of the vehicle and he did not suffer any injuries.
The man and his family received care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and were eventually discharged.

The office of the DPP release noted that the instruction to issue the charge was decided on based on the statements contained in the police file received on February 24, 2022.
The DPP has also ordered a preliminary inquiry (PI) be conducted since the charge is an indictable one, with further investigations to be conducted. The file is expected to be returned to the chambers of the DPP for further legal advice by Monday March 7, 2022.