Bus driver remanded over causing uncle’s death 16 months ago

–also being probed in student’s demise

A 22-year-old minibus driver, who is accused of causing the death of his uncle 16 months ago and going into hiding after the incident, was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The court granted the prosecution’s request for bail to be refused also on grounds that the accused Howard De Santos is currently being questioned by investigators regarding the death of 13-year-old President’s College student Kojo McPherson and is likely to be charged in the new week.

At his arraignment yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, De Santos was not required to plead to the indictable charge of causing the death of his uncle Shawn Forde.

The charge alleges that on August 13, 2013 at Agricola Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he drove motor vehicle BRR 1955 in a dangerous manner, causing Forde’s death.

The young man’s attorney, in a bail application, said that his client has a fixed place of abode at Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, poses no risk of flight and has no previous convictions nor pending matters.

He added too that the offence is bailable and that his client has always made himself available to the police.

However, Police Prosecutor Michael Grant forcefully objected to counsel’s bail application stating that since the incident occurred in 2013, the accused had gone into hiding after being placed on station bail.

“After posting bail, he never returned to the station on the date the police had given him,” Grant emphasized.

The court further heard that it was only after the young McPherson met his demise on Sunday that De Santos was apprehended.

Grant also objected to bail, advancing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.

After hearing the case, the magistrate informed De Santos that he would be remanded to prison. His matter will be called again on January 9 for reports.

Forde succumbed to his injuries after the Route 45 minibus in which he was travelling slammed into the fence of the Alpha Hotel along the East Bank Public Road in Agricola.

Eyewitnesses had said that dangerous driving was to be blamed for the incident and that the bus was travelling at a fast rate of speed.

Stabroek News was told that the bus was trying to avoid a car and smashed into the back of a Route 32 minibus.

The Route 45 bus bearing the number plates BRR 1955 was said to be travelling with a full complement of passengers and was heading back to Georgetown after picking persons up on the highway.

Seventeen persons, including Forde, had sustained injuries and were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Forde died sometime after.

Meanwhile, McPherson died on Sunday after a car crashed into his bicycle at Paradise, East Coast Demerara.