Patrick Higgins, a senior Court Marshal, was granted bail in the sum of Gy$810,000 when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence charges.
It is alleged that on February 23 at Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Higgins drove motor car PTT 4701 in a dangerous manner causing the death of Juene Carroll Marshall, 60, of Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
At the time of the accident, the defendant’s alcohol level exceeded the legal limit with respect to the consumption of alcohol, the Court was told.
Attorneys representing the defendant, Dennis Paul and Roger Yearwood made an application for bail, stating that Higgins was a Senior Marshal attached to the High Court of Guyana. Yearwood stated that his client was never charged with any offence prior to the current one. Paul then told the Court that on the day in question after the accident occurred, the defendant remained on the scene while Police Officers took approximately one hour to respond.
He added that the defendant did not make any attempt to evade the Police or interfere with the investigation. He further told the Court that his client met the criteria for bail to be granted and there were no grounds for which the bail application should be denied or refused.
Police Prosecutor Simone Payne objected to bail on the grounds that a life was lost. She stressed that at the time of the accident, the defendant was above the legal alcohol limit.
She told the Court that the defendant also gave Police Officers a wrong address.
The defendant will return to Court on February 29 for the driving under the influence of alcohol charge and on March 4 for the causing death charge.
