[www.inewsguyana.com] – Twenty – four – year old Shameer Barker was remanded to prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan on September 01 for the offense of causing death by dangerous driving.
The defendant of Lot 212 Yobani Avenue, Eccles, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleged 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.
Barker, a carpenter attached to the Ministry of Education, was also charged with three other related offences, to which he pleaded not guilty.
It is alleged that on the same day at Eccles Public Road, being the driver of the said vehicle, he failed to take the injured persons to the hospital. It is also alleged that on the same day after the accident occurred with Orwin Whittington and Latoya Thompson, he failed to stop the vehicle he was driving.
Particulars of the last charge alleged that after the accident occurred, Barker failed to report it to a police station or a police constable within 24 hours.
The accused was represented in court by Attorneys-at-law, Glenn Hanoman and Priya Manickchand.
Hanoman told the court that his client panicked when the police were looking for him but he turned himself over to the police on August 31, while noting that the accused is not a flight risk. He further related that Barker and his mother have been receiving death threats since the fatal accident.
Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones opposed bail on the grounds of the nature and gravity of the charge. Bail was refused and the matter was transferred before Magistrate Fabayo Azore for September 16.
Latoya Thompson of Craig Village, EBD was the pillion rider of a motorcycle which collided with a white wagon that failed to stop at the traffic light at Eccles, EBD. Her friend, Orwin Whittington, 35 was the rider and was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
