‘Drunken’ Policeman granted bail for causing death of 10-year-old

A 26-year-old Police Constable Ravinand Bissessar, of Good Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD), on Thursday appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Wales Magistrate’s Court to answer to two charges – causing death by dangerous driving and Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

Police Constable Ravinand Bissessar
Police Constable Ravinand Bissessar

The Policeman was not required to plead to the causing death by dangerous driving charge which stated that on May 15 at Sisters Village, WBD, while driving motor car PLL 222, he struck down 10-year-old Davin Sealey, who was riding a bicycle along the roadway, resulting in the child’s death.
A breathalyser test conducted on Bissessar after the accident revealed that he had .66 micrograms of alcohol in his system, which is above the legal limit.
On the DUI charge, the accused initially pleaded guilty when it was read to him. However, his Attorney, Mark Conway interjected and disputed the breathalyser test result presented and said that another test conducted at the hospital proved there was no alcohol in his client’s system.
Magistrate Nurse subsequently entered a not guilty plea on Bissessar’s behalf.
In his bail application, Attorney Conway said that his client was not a flight risk, was remorseful and had lived at the same location for the past 22 years.
The prosecution had no objection to bail being granted on the condition that the defendant’s driver’s licence is suspended for the duration of the trial.
The Policeman was placed on $600,000 bail for the causing death charge and self-bail for the DUI.
Bissessar was also ordered to report to the Wales Police Station on a weekly basis while his licence was suspended.
He will return to court on June 22, 2016.
According to initial Police reports, on the day in question, Bissessar, who was stationed at the Wales Police Station, was attempting to negotiate a turn at Sisters Village when he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a parked car, before hitting the lad who was riding along the roadway.
The Policeman’s car came to a stop after it crashed into a utility pole.
The young man was said to be on his way to meet his father at the time of the accident.
Guyana Times understands that a post-mortem examination revealed that the young Sealey died as a result of multiple injuries to his body.