Daniel Forrester, the motorcyclist charged last year with causing the death of a pedestrian in a collision at Bagotstown, East Bank of Demerara, was yesterday found guilty of the crime and a probation report has been ordered before sentencing.
Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, found that on September 12th, 2018, at the Bagotstown Public Road, Forrester rode motorcycle CJ 6345 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Shawn Bruce.
In the courtroom yesterday, the magistrate said that it was the prosecutor’s duty to prove that Forrester was the rider of the motorcycle, that he rode on the road in question, that he rode in a dangerous manner and that it was as a result of his riding that he caused the death of Bruce.
The magistrate recalled that after the court overruled a no-case submission made by Forrester’s attorney Jed Vasconcellos, the defendant, when called upon to lead his defence, gave unsworn evidence.
It was stated that the court placed little weight on the evidence given by Forrester during his unsworn statement.
Magistrate Daly later ruled that having considered all the evidence and considering the fact that all four elements of the case that were required to be proven by the prosecution were proven, the court found Forrester guilty of the crime.
The biker is expected to make his next court appearance on October 10th when a probation report is to be read and sentence passed.
The matter is being prosecuted by Police Prosecutor Richard Harris.
Facts surrounding the matter state that Forrester was the rider of a motorcycle, CJ 6345, going south along the eastern carriageway of the Bagotstown Public Road at a fast rate of speed, when he collided with Bruce, who was attempting to cross the road. Both of them fell unconscious after the collision and they were later picked up and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where Bruce was pronounced dead upon arrival.
