[www.inewsguyana.com] – Twenty – eight – year old Juliano Seunarine of Tain, Corentyne Berbice appeared before City Magistrate, Ann McLennan, on Monday, August 17, charged with causing the death of Christobel Hughes – the mother of prominent Attorney and Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes.
The young man, who works with the Guyana Bauxite Company, was charged with dangerous driving as well as driving under the influence of alcohol. The court heard that on August 15 at Pike and Lamaha Street, Georgetown he drove motor pickup PPP 4641 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of 84-Y-0 Hughes.
He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and was fined $7,500; for the offence of dangerous driving, he pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison until September 04.
Seunarine was unrepresented and according to information received, the test conducted by police revealed that his alcohol level was 161 micrograms when the legal limit is 35.
iNews had reported that the woman was being driven home by her son, Stuart Hughes, when a pickup truck heading eastward along Pike Street slammed into their vehicle.
According to witnesses in the area, the force of the collision was so strong that it resulted in the Hughes’ car slamming into the nearby Natoo’s Bar, causing extensive damage to both the vehicle and the building, the Kaieteur News reported.
According to the report, from all indications, Mrs. Hughes bore the brunt of the impact since the pick-up hit the car on the passenger side, directly where she was sitting.
This is only headline because someone notable was involve. Why not when the little kids are involve or anyone else. As mention previously the attorney whose mother is involved would ask for settlement in any other similar case. Here he will seek excessive punishment in this case.
So sad. If the accused is found guilty he should do the time.
Let this be a strong message drinking and driving put’s lives at risk.
RIP Granny Hughes.
Drunk or sober he is entitled to due process. The matter is grave and weighty as it involves the mother of a national figure. The accused is entitled to legal representation and if he cant afford same then he should be afforded a state appointed lawyer. Perception is looming large and the integrity of the process must be protected. A fresh bail application to the Chief Justice needs to be made to protect the accused constitutional rights. Causing death is motor vehicle negligence and not murder. His drunken state also diminishes any intention to harm anyone. The circumstances surrounding his act of driving impaired are triable issues at this stage. The decision of the Magistrate to reduce the indictable charge of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving without the accused having legal representation appears to be a violation of the Administration of Justices Act. Lets not continue to violate his Constitutional rights due to sensationalism.
Absolutely disgraceful, again the perp survives and the innocent perishes… Guyana needs to send out a strong signal no to drink driving… This fool should get 10 years plus.. RIP Madam…
My condolences to th family and all.. but let’s twist it a bit and say “wonder if it was someone else’s loved one,I guessing the lawyers would’ve advised that the family settles”.. such hypocrites.. “let’s see how the cookie crumbles”..
This is very heart breaking. My condolences. Drunk driving has to be dealt with with more severe, restrictive and rehabilitative sentences. RIP Mother Hughes.
This has nothing to do with closing times of drinking establishments because drinking is a passtime in Guyana and it happens even at high noon, penalties have to be increased for drunk driving thats the only way people will think twice.
My condolences to the Hughes family. This drunk driving situation maybe finally solved. Only when someone “big” dies then is something done.
Ok all the promises the Traffic Chief made about Drunk Drivers may get put in place. If the police would station patrols close to the local drinking establishments, they could stop a lot of this, they know what time the places close, but they are never there to catch Drunks. Sorry partiers, but this is getting ridiculous. there are a lot of taxi services and in America, if the Bartender or the Security thinks you are too drunk to drive they will take your car keys and if you refuse to give them up, they call the police. Hat is wrong with Guyana implementing such laws?
My condolences to Nigel and the family.