A 23-year-old contractor, accused of causing the death of an eight-year-old girl by driving in a dangerous manner and then driving away from the scene of the accident, was charged with the offences and granted bail when he appeared at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Zulficar Namdar
Zulficar Namdar of 76 Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to charges of causing death by dangerous driving, failure to stop after an accident and failure to render assistance to injured persons and was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 by Magistrate Fazil Azeez.
It is alleged that on Sunday, at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, he drove motor car, PLL 2554 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Alecia Forrester. It is also alleged that following the incident, during which injuries were caused to Forrester and Alvin Constantine, he failed to stop the car. Further, it is alleged that having been involved in the accident during which injuries were caused to Forrester and Constantine, he failed to render assistance by taking the injured persons for medical treatment.
Attorney-at-law Lawrence Harris entered an appearance for Namdar. In a bail application, he stated that his client is a contractor and operates a trucking service. Harris told the court that his client is married and has a five-week-old child and this is his first time before the court. The attorney said that according to his instructions, Namdar was heading in a western direction and had tried to avoid hitting the child, who had run in front of a stationary Canter. He further stated that his client had stopped his vehicle and got into another car and had gone to the Vreed-en-Hoop police station. He added that Namdar’s mother, wife and child had been in the car with him. “He went straight to report the accident to the Vreed-en-Hoop police station,” Harris contended adding that his client had been going to help but saw a “mob”. He asked for reasonable bail to be granted.
However, Police Prosecutor Ramsahoye Rambajue told the court that the defendant had been travelling at a fast rate of speed. He declared that Namdar drove away and was pursued by public-spirited citizens and was caught close to a gas station on New Road.
A policeman involved in the case told the court that Namdar had been taken to the police station in a taxi, and the driver had said that he had tried to escape but had been caught. Namdar denied that the taxi driver had stopped him and said that he had stopped by himself.
Police had said Sunday that investigations revealed that Forrester and Constantine, 36, who is her step-father, were crossing the road when they were struck down by the driver of the car, who was driving at a fast rate and was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol. The two pedestrians were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where Forrester was pronounced dead on arrival and Constantine admitted in a serious condition while the driver of the car drove away from the scene of the accident but was pursued by public-spirited persons who caught him, and handed him over to the police.
Namdar was ordered to return to court on February 6 at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court for report.
Meantime, earlier this month, Leslie Lopes, who was charged with causing death by dangerous driving back in 2006 was sentenced to two years imprisonment and had his license suspended for two years after he was found guilty following a trial at the Vreed-en-Hoop court.
On February 21, 2006, he caused the death of Gurudat Suknandan by driving motor bus BJJ 3319 on the Goed Fortuin public road in a manner dangerous to the public, according to the Vreed-en-Hoop court report.
Why was this Accused granted Bail.He was DRUNK and tried to ESCAPE.
Usually any Court System in the world delivers surprises regarding criminals every now and then. Zulficar exibited a sick mind when he drove away without rendering assistance. Imagine he did this at the age of 23.
This is likely an accident, however his punishment should be severe, because he failed to stay at the scene of the incident, and could have possibly save the little girls life. Please judge NO SLAP ON THE WRIST FOR THIS ONE.
The driver hit the two pedestrians and was stopped about a mile from the accident, I was at the point where he was stopped. The man was totally inebriated and it was his friends who placed the staggering drunk into a car and took him to the police station, he could not have done it by himself. “He attempted to stop but saw a mob gathered,” this is plain hogwash. How can a mob gather in the few seconds he took to mow the people down?. The man had a 5 weeks baby in the car, now tell me how irresponsible can this man be?
Not simply irresponsibe, but criminal. I’m sorry he wasn’t locked up.
you’re right, i was there too at both the accident and where he was stopped, not at the same time. two weeks ago it had another accident just a couple houses where he got cornered,one of the 2 persons in the accident also died; they were both at the corner, tyre makers were evident. the families will never get to enjoy the holidays.
Johnny HAPPY NEW YEAR BRO…WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALL THE VERY BEST…
TRUST ME ON THIS BRO…THE MOB COMES OUT IN SPLIT SECONDS…
I HAVE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER…..
Evil, all the best for the new year to you and your family too. I hope you remigrate to Guyana for 2009 and get some ease from the chilling freezer you have found yourself living in right now.
Back to this rum guzzling idiot, he should be remanded to prison. I was on the seen where the car stopped and people came running and wanted to smash the windows but were cautioned not to. I have no mercy for people who unleash terror on others when they are drunk.
John, driving drunk is becoming the “norm” , it seems like. The drivers are younger and less experienced, some of them are probably driving without licence.
I have no regard for anyone who uses their vehicle to kill and injure innocent lives. I place them in the same category as any other criminal.
Thanks for the eyewitness account of the happenings.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Debbie, I wish you and your family a very successful 2009.
shocking that Magistrate Fazil Azeez would grant this guy bail..
i dont understand the law in Guyana .. your law book need to be updated or something !
shameful! and she has a wife and a baby so the courts should feel sorry for him,, whatever you killed a little girl, ur baby will grow one day and you’ll see her get marreied and all the other things…
Ms. Forrester is gone and NO MORE her family will NEVER enjoy any of that…
what u guys talking about? legal system? which part in canada u live? Last year 2 young guys were street racing with their parents BMW and killed a taxi driver in toronto, what did the court do? Sent them home free one year supsension from driving so don’t talk about system if u don’t have a better one.
James i agree with you! its just sad to read things like this… it happens every day all over the world…
TWO YEARS FOR CAUSING DEATH AND TWO YEARS SUSPENSION OF HIS LICENCE. WOW! I JUST HAVE TO SHAKE MY HEAD.
There are so many inconsistancies in this report that it requires a private investigator to complete a comprehensive investigation. I however guarentee that if a private investigation is not concluded, this man will be free , because he has a good lawyer who will challenge every eyewitness account, and pay the dead girl’s family,,,,,business as usual in good ol Guyana money talks.
This is what a lot of us were blogging about yesterday – Dec. 29th.
It was another accident in which 2 young innocent lives were lost due to irresponsible drivers. The entire Driver Education and Laws in Guyana need to be revamped, revised or up-dated. If you can’t drive a car, then go back to the dankey-cart. You save on gas and cannot speed and cause accidents. I heard a story where the donkey went all the way home with a drunk man (the owner) on the cart. He was obviously too intoxicated to lead – the animal took over and there could be a moral to the story. Drivers must know their capabilities or designate another driver who is sober.
i guess the donkey was sober, lol
what is going on in Guyana? This drunken driver was granted bail because of some Lawyer? Lawyer Harris why don’t you try explaining to the wife of the guy in hospital and mother of the child who is dead that this is the driver first offence and he is a upstanding citizen and a contractor who is 23 and who operates a trucking service. That would give her much consolation, don’t you think.
This man should have been remanded for at least a week and bail should have been $500,000.00. Further, after being under the influence, he should have been charged with motor manslaughter.
John Smith – How come no mention of him being charged with DUI/DWI? Plus how come he is granted bail in the sum of $150,000 for killing this child and three out of the four individuals that broke into Mr. North’s home were placed on $200,000 bail each. Can somebody explain that logic to me?.
Swat, I wish I could help you with and answer. I am equally angey and confused about this whole situation. All the innocent lives that are being snuffed out because of the lunatics we have on the road is mind boggling.