SHAMEER Barker of Lot 212 Youbani Avenue, Eccles, East Bank Demerara appeared Tuesday before city Magistrate, Ann McLennan to answer a series of traffic-related charges, among which was causing death by dangerous driving.The 24-year-old carpenter attached to the Ministry of Education was not required to plead to the causing-death charge, which was laid indictably. Particulars of that charge stated that on August 12, at Eccles Public Road, he drove motorcar PPP 1354 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Latoya Thompson.

Another charge detailed that on the same day, at the Eccles Public Road, EBD, being the driver of the aforementioned vehicle, Barker failed to take the injured persons to a medical practitioner.

It is also alleged that on the same day, after the accident involving Orin Whittington and Latoya Thompson had occurred, he failed to stop the vehicle which he was driving.

Moreover, it is alleged that after the accident had occurred, Barker failed to report same to a police station or police constable within 24 hours.

Represented by Attorneys-at-law, Glen Hanoman and Priya Manickchand, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges; and in an effort to secure bail, defence counsel Hanoman told the court that his client panicked when he knew the police were looking for him. “Yesterday, he turned himself over to the police, with both of his attorneys,” Hanoman said.

He maintained that his client does not pose a flight risk, and reiterated that he had willingly turned himself over to the police. Hanoman also related that Barker and his mother have been receiving death threats.

Counsel caught the attention of the court after revealing that a male wearing a white shirt had been sitting behind Barker’s mother. This caused everyone within the courtroom to turn around and tilt their heads for a few minutes to see to whom the lawyer was referring.

Police prosecutor Dinero Jones successfully opposed bail on grounds of the nature and gravity of the charges Barker faces. The prosecutor also said, the fact that Barker went into hiding clearly shows that, if granted pretrial liberty, he may not return to court for his trial.

Magistrate McLennan advised the defence attorney that if his client was at all being threatened, he should report same to the police. She upheld the prosecutor’s objection and refused the defendant bail. The matter has been transferred before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, before whom Barker is expected to make his second court appearance on September 16.