Motorcyclist remanded on causing death charge

King was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge of causing death by dangerous riding but he pleaded not guilty to the charges of operating a motorcycle without a licence and an insurance policy with respect to third party risk.

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson presided over the matters.

It is alleged that on January 8, at Hunter Street, West Ruimveldt, he rode motorcycle CF 445 in a dangerous manner to the public which resulted in an accident that caused the death of Dhanraj Narine.

However, King denied that on the same day he operated the motorcycle without having a driver’s licence and an insurance policy with respect to third party risk in force.

His lawyer Raphael Trotman stated that he was baffled as to why his client was charged for being an unlicensed rider when he had a provisional licence.

Trotman applied for reasonable bail for King stating that he had been in police custody since Friday.

The lawyer stated that though the result of the accident is tragic his client had done everything in his power to avoid hitting Narine and  he was not under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred.

He said that on the day in question his client was turning into Hunter Street when Narine suddenly wandered into the same lane as his client and in an attempt to avoid hitting him with the motorcycle he swerved but his client’s shoulder struck Narine causing both of them to fall.

Trotman noted that his client got up and noticed that Narine wasn’t moving so he immediately got a taxi and rushed Narine to the hospital.

The lawyer went on to say that King made no attempts to flee since he even reported the accident to the police station where he was arrested and subsequently charged.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Stephen Telford objected to the bail application on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offences.

He told the court Narine had never regained consciousness after the accident and subsequently died.

The prosecutor noted that checks would be made to verify whether or not King had a provisional licence in force at the time of the accident.

King is scheduled to make another court appearance on Friday.