[www.inewsguyana.com] – A Lieutenant attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was jailed for 36 months on Tuesday, July 14, for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
Lt. Anthony Eastman of Well Road, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was found guilty of the charge, which alleged that on November 1, 2013 at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown he drove motor vehicle PPP 2210 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Ronald Gonsalves.
Twenty-eight-year-old Eastman was placed on $200,000 bail, when he made his first court appearance before Former Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
On the day in question Gonsalves was a passenger of the car which Eastman was driving. The trial was prosecuted by Police Inspector Vishnu Hunt and approximately seven witnesses were called on behalf of the prosecution to testify.
Representing the soldier was Attorney-at-law, Leslie Sobers, who in mitigation asked the court to consider that his client has a good driving record and the incident was his first encounter and that Eastman showed remorse since the victim was like a brother to him.
Sobers urged that the court to consider that Eastman was also injured in the accident and that his client was not under the influence of the alcohol at the time of the accident.
After the sentence was handed down by Magistrate Latchman, the Lawyer requested that Eastman be placed on bail, while his matter is being appealed. However, his application was denied by the Magistrate.
