Driver charged with causing death of two persons at Kairuni

A man who is accused of causing the death of two persons by dangerous driving was yesterday granted bail in the sum of $1.2M by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Elton George

The allegation is that on August 21 at Kairuni Public Road, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, Elton George, 34, of lot N Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown drove motor vehicle PLL 9021 in a dangerous manner causing the death of Sigmond Marks and Christopher Benjamin.

The defendant was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge of causing death by dangerous driving when it was read to him by the magistrate.

When asked by the magistrate the reason for George’s appearance at the George-town Magistrate’s Court instead of the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court, attorney-at-law Raphael Trotman who represented the accused, told the court that when his client made his initial appearance at the Christianburg Magis-trate’s Court, the magistrate there informed the court that she would not be reading the charge to the accused because of injuries he had sustained from the accident.

Trotman then made an application that his client be admitted to reasonable bail on the grounds that he has no previous convictions, poses no risk of flight, has a fixed place of abode and has been cooperating with the police in their investigations.

Christopher Benjamin

Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels had no objection to the bail application made by the lawyer but submitted however that the defendant be placed on substantial bail.

The magistrate then admitted the accused to bail in the sum of $1.2M. Trotman pleaded with the magistrate for a reduction in the bail granted, but his request was denied.

The defendant’s matter was later transferred to the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court for September 1.

The car is reported to have been speeding over a bridge at the bottom of a hill when it hit a depression in the road and the driver lost control.

The vehicle then skidded over to the opposite lane and came to a halt in some bushes off the highway.