8 months after fatal Corentyne crash: Driver charged with causing teen’s death, release on $800,000 bail

Some eight months after a Corentyne Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) teenager passed away as a result of a motor vehicular accident, the man allegedly responsible for the incident has been charged. Shakir Batson of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Mathias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Batson, 25, is accused of driving motorcar, PAG 6823, in a manner dangerous to the public along Hampshire access Road on October 27, 2024, causing the death of 18-year-old Jainarine Rampersaud.
Attorney-at-Law Sasha Roberts representing Batson told the court that he was not a flight risk. She said the taxi driver would attend the court for the trial and asked for bail to be granted.
Police prosecutor, Mark Edwards while not providing any facts on the case, said that the police was not objecting to bail.
Magistrate Matthias set bail at $800,000 on the condition that Batson must report to the Albion Police Station every other Friday.
The matter will be called again on July 15, when the police are expected to make available statements in the matter.
It was previously reported that on October 27, 2024, 18-year-old Rampersaud, of Ankerville, Port Mourant was riding a motorcycle with 15-year-old Stephon Verrapen as the pillion rider, when they were allegedly hit by a car.
Following the crash, the two teenagers were taken to the Port Morant Hospital and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. However, Rampersaud was transferred to the Georgetown Post Public Hospital (GPHC) where some 12 days later, he succumbed to his injuries.
It was reported that the driver of the car claimed that he was driving along the Corentyne Highway when the motorcycle, CN 9498, rode up from behind and hit his car, damaging the rear lights in the process. The driver reportedly said the motorcyclists did not stop and as such, he said he gave chase and eventually caught up with them.
However, Rampersaud’s mother had told reporters that the rear of the car showed no visible signs of damage, but rather, the front of the car, which hit the motorcycle, was damaged.
Rampersaud’s mother has been repeatedly calling for justice for her son.