Danion Welcome, the driver of the truck that crushed seven-year-old Ciarra Benjamin to death three months ago on the Agricola Public Road, was granted bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
It is alleged that the 39-year-old father of four, on June 1st at the Agricola Public Road, drove motor lorry GWW 962 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Benjamin. Welcome pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Facts presented to the court by police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield indicated that on the day in question, at about 16:10 hours, the defendant was driving the lorry which was heading north on the eastern driveway of the western carriageway. At the time, the prosecutor said, Welcome was travelling at a fast rate and while in the vicinity of the Agricola Public Road, he lost control of the lorry which swerved and collided with Benjamin. The girl was crushed by the vehicle.
The prosecutor made no objection to Welcome being granted substantial bail but requested that conditions be applied.
Attorney James Bond, who represented the accused, told the court that since the crash, his client has been unable to work after he was attacked by persons at the scene of the incident. He said that this has resulted in Welcome needing regular checkups. Welcome, according to the attorney, would have had surgery in August to an area near his brain. Bond further told the court that the family of the deceased had reached out to him for some sort of support.
The chief magistrate subsequently granted the accused $500,000 bail. He was also ordered to lodge his valid Guyanese passport with the clerk of courts at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and report every Friday at 8 am to the Ruimveldt Police Station. Welcome also had his licence suspended until the completion of the trial. He is also barred from obtaining a licence for all forms of vehicles until his matter is complete.
The matter was then adjourned until September 23rd when statements are expected to be served.
Benjamin, a Grade One student of the Canadian School of Arts and Science, died immediately after she was struck by the truck around 4 pm on June 1st. She was reportedly attempting to cross the Agricola Public Road in the company of her aunt, when she was struck by the truck.
Following Benjamin’s death, some residents of the area launched an attack on Welcome and the vehicle was later set on fire.
