Former Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff Gary Best has been freed of the charge of causing the death of cyclist Jude Bentley by dangerous driving.
According to Best’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, Magistrate Rondell Weaver yesterday ruled that the prosecution failed to establish enough evidence to support the charge and thus upheld the no-case submission that had been made by the defence.
The media was not permitted to sit in the courtroom or even enter the compound when the ruling was handed down yesterday due to continuing COVID-19 restrictions. However, after the two-hour ruling, Hughes and other attorneys accompanied by Best told reporters at the court gate that “the magistrate upheld the no-case submission” and “consequently the case has been dismissed.”
Best, in an invited comment, told reporters that he was happy that the matter was over and maintained his innocence by saying “it was an accident”. He added that the facts presented to the court show that he did not purposefully cause the death of the cyclist. Best also said that he hopes that with the matter being brought to an end, both his family and Bentley’s family can heal from the tragedy. “I just hope the whole family can heal now,” he told reporters.
Best also told reporters that since the accident he has not reached out directly to the cyclist’s family. He explained that his attorneys have been handling everything.
In March, Best was formally charged with the offence. It was alleged that on February 8th, at Clive Lloyd Drive, Greater Georgetown, he drove a car, PRR 812, in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Bentley.
At the time, the police prosecutor, in objecting to Best being granted bail, had noted that the results of a breathalyser test showed his breath alcohol content had been over the legal limit at the time of the accident. Best was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and that matter is still pending in court.
Best, who had served as a member of the Guyana Defence Force for over 34 years, had been serving as a presidential adviser at the time of the accident.
The accident occurred at approximately 4:31 am on February 8th as Bentley was riding his cycle, heading east on the Clive Lloyd Drive, in order to meet a group of cyclists at Sheriff Street. Best, who was proceeding in his vehicle in the same direction, has alleged that the cyclist suddenly appeared in front of him and although he applied his brakes the right side of the front of his vehicle collided with the cyclist, who fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries. A lamp pole on the southern side of the road was dislodged by the vehicle as it came to a stop. An autopsy revealed that Bentley died as a result of the multiple injuries he suffered.
Best was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital on the morning after the accident. He was under police guard while at the hospital and on February 10th, he was discharged from the hospital after which he was placed on $100,000 station bail and asked to lodge his passport with the police.
