Former soldier Delroy Mitchell was on Tuesday cleared of the dangerous driving death of a woman who was killed after she was struck by an army vehicle on the Linden Highway in 2009.
Mitchell, 26, was, however, found guilty of careless driving and fined $100,000 by Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Christianburg Magistrates’ Court.
Magistrate McLennan stated that the evidence presented to her by witnesses was not sufficient for a conviction on the charge of causing the death of Enid Sharpe by dangerous driving. She noted that there was proof that the ex-soldier was driving carelessly and found him guilty for that offence. Mitchell was given one week to pay the fine or face 12 months in prison.
The accident occurred on May 23, 2009. The army pick-up DFB 1469 was moving along the Amelia’s Ward Highway at a fast rate, while Sharpe, riding motorcycle CE 3406, attempted to cross the road in front of the pickup. Sharpe was hit by the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries.
Mitchell is currently facing a charge over the unlawful use of a firearm. It is alleged that on the day of the accident, he made use of an army weapon to prevent his lawful apprehension.
It had been alleged that soldiers at the scene of the accident discharged shots to ward off an angry crowd.
