A truck driver will spend the next three years in jail after he was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
Clyde Barker was sentenced when he appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The charge stated that the 32-year-old man on April 10, at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, drove motor lorry GJJ 278 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of 12-year-old Ezekiel Murray.
In handing down her ruling, Magistrate McGusty stated that the evidence presented to the court proved that the defendant’s account of what happened on the day in question was false.
She added that taking into consideration the fact that speeding was a major factor contributing to the accident, the injuries sustained by the deceased and the age of the deceased, the defendant was found guilty as charged. In his final words to the court, the defendant asked the court for leniency.
However, the Magistrate said that a life was lost and handed down the sentence.
On the day in question, at about 18:00h, the victim was walking along Friendship Public Road when the defendant’s truck slammed into him.
According to information received, the lad was in the corner of the road when the driver of the canter took a sharp turn too quickly and hit the child. He was tossed into the air by the force of the impact and landed on the roadway where he reportedly died instantly.
From reports received, Murray might have suffered a broken neck and other injuries. He was picked up and rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
