A taxi driver, who admitted to accidentally causing the death of another man, was yesterday sentenced to four years in jail time for the crime.
Fazil Mohammed of Charlestown, Georgetown, was yesterday read a charge which stated that on February 19, at Fort Street, Kingston, he drove his car, HC 358, in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Gregory Nedd.
Mohammed, who did not have a lawyer, pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
According to Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, Mohammed jumped into his car, which was parked south along the western side of Fort Street, Kingston, and reversed in a speed and hit the now deceased Nedd, who was sitting in a chair on the road. Moore said as a result of the collision, Nedd was hospitalised. He succumbed to his injuries on March 4.
Mohammed, who addressed the court, said that when he got into his car, he had just come back from buying food. He added that he placed his vehicle in reverse to come out of its parked position and he tried to put it into drive. However, the vehicle still continued to reverse and although he tried his best to brake, Mohammed said, it “keep shooting backwards.” As a result, he explained, the car collided with Nedd. He told the court that persons from the area came out to render assistance to the now deceased man. He added that while he also tried to help, he was beaten by the persons who came out.
Mohammed begged the magistrate for mercy, while saying that he was sorry for what he had done and that the accident was not premeditated.
But Moore brought it to court’s attention that Mohammed failed to tell the court that he was also charged with driving under the influence as a result of the accident and had pleaded guilty. Moore reported that Mohammed had a high blood-alcohol level. Moore also related that although the post-mortem examination report for Nedd was outstanding, according to the investigating rank the now deceased man sustained a fractured spine due to the accident.
The Chief Magistrate later said during sentencing that the court considered the fact that Mohammed did not waste the court’s time as well as the prevalence of the offence, and the need for the sentence to serve as a deterrent for others.
