Soldier on trial for pensioner’s death says deceased rode into truck’s path

Zamani Archibald

By Oliceia Tinnie

Zamani Archibald, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank charged with causing the death of a pensioner who was struck down along the Soesdyke Public Road, yesterday claimed that the deceased rode into the path of the truck he was driving at the time.

Archibald yesterday opted to give the court unsworn evidence after he was called upon by Georgetown magistrate Judy Latchman to lead a defence to the charge that he drove a motor pickup, DFB 1566, on March 11, 2017, on the Soesdyke Public Road in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Harry Persaud.

He proceeded to tell the court that on March 11 he was on his way to Timehri, travelling along the Soesdyke Highway, when he saw a pedal cyclist come out of the street and turn in the same direction towards Timehri. Archibald noted that he began to approach the pedal cyclist, when the rider attempted to cross the road.