Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo yesterday remanded to prison two drivers who appeared before her charged with causing the deaths of two men in last Saturday’s two-car crash at Canje, Berbice.
Steve Ramsarran, 23, of 58 Stanleytown, Berbice, who was driving motorcar HB 6777 and Shawn Ramsaran, 29, called ‘Fat Boy’ of Lot 4 Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice, who was driving motorcar HB 7214 were not required to plead to the two indictable charges of causing death by dangerous driving.
Police Prosecutor Cor-poral Roberto Figueira told the court that on the day in question the two drivers were racing their cars along the road when they collided and both drivers lost control causing the deaths of Tony Tayloo called ‘Rocky’ and ‘Dirt’, 25, of 383 Number Two Village, East Canje and Sureshdyal ‘Aemron’ Kalipersaud, 29, of 75 Sheet Anchor and of Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
In opposing bail Figueira asked the court to take note of the nature and gravity of the offence. He also said that if granted bail there is a likelihood that the men would not return for their trial.
Figueira said that the men were racing and their actions caused the deaths of two innocent persons.
Attorney-at-law Charrandass Persaud representing Steve Ramsarran said he saw no
reason why his client should not be granted bail.
He said his client has a fixed place of abode, is a hire car driver by profession and has never been involved in any matter involving the police. The attorney said the facts were that another car forced his client off the road and nobody was hurt or killed at the hands of his client. He also stated that his client ended up in hospital as a result of the accident.
Meanwhile Persaud also held for Attorney-at-law Mursaline Bacchus who is representing Shawn Ramsaran, but was unavoidably absent. He also argued for bail for Shawn Ramsaran, stating that his client is married and has a fixed place of abode.
He said the offence was a bailable one and that his client has never had trouble with the law before. He further submitted that his client was injured in the accident, hospitalized and was still in tremendous pain.
The magistrate after listening to both sides refused bail and ordered that the men return to court on July 16.
Family members of both accused bemoaned that the men were taken to court late – after 16:00 hrs and that they were both still in severe pain as a result of the accident. Shawn Ramsaran’s relatives pointed to his condition and urged that he needed to be taken to a hospital for further medical attention.
Steve Ramsarran was taken into custody on Sunday after he was treated at the New Amsterdam hospital and discharged while Shawn Ramsarran was taken into custody on Monday afternoon.
This was after he was discharged from the hospital, after being admitted on the night of the accident. He had sustained multiple injuries.
Reports were that the two cars were racing along the Number Two road around 19:30 hrs when they came upon a cow that was on the highway. The cars collided and HB 6777 careened off the road into a verandah of a house. The car ripped away the front fence, uprooted one of the house’s posts and finally came to rest on the fence separating that yard from the neighbour’s.
Meanwhile, HB 7214 turned turtle a few times during which it stuck Tayloo who was
cycling along the road on his way to purchase phone cards, reportedly killing him instantly.
Kalipersaud, who was in the vehicle, fell out. The car then ended up in the drain at the side of the road with Ramsarran halfway out of the vehicle.
They were all picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital, where Tayloo was pronounced dead on arrival; Kalipersaud died subsequently.
