Motorcyclist granted $200,000 bail on causing death charge

A man accused of causing the death of another as a result of riding his motorcycle in a dangerous manner was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $200,000 after appearing before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The allegation against Jason Shepherd of 133 Vlissingen Road is that on November 4 at Georgetown, he drove motorcycle CE 5488 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Oswald Greaves.

Jason Shepherd

The 28-year-old defendant, a consultant coordinator attached to the United Nations, pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Lionel Harvey told the court that on the day in question, the accused was attempting to cross a junction at Haley Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown when he failed to stop, thereby causing the accident. Harvey told the court that the victim was rushed to the hospital where he died on November 8 as a result of the injuries he had sustained.

Attorney-at-law Patrice Henry, who represented the defendant, told the court that on the day of the incident his client was riding along the roadway when the deceased suddenly came from behind a post and walked into the path of traffic.

According to the attorney, the actions of the victim gave his client little time to bring his motorcycle to a halt.
Henry then made an application for his client to be granted reasonable bail on the grounds that he has no antecedents, poses no risk of flight, has a fixed address and has been cooperating with the police in their investigations.

The prosecution had no objection to the accused being granted his pretrial liberty. Shepherd was later granted $200,000 bail. His matter was transferred to Court Seven for December 3 for report and fixture.