Cop pleads guilty to causing death by dangerous driving charge

A Police Constable was on Wednesday remanded to prison pending sentencing after he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Constable Trevor Benn was charged with a string of traffic offences five months after he was involved in a hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a 55-year-old male pedestrian.
He pleaded guilty to the first charge, which stated that on August 1, 2021, at Number 22 Bel Air Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB), he drove motorcar PWW 8799 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Whitfield James.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he drove the motorcar when a licence under the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act was not in force. It was also alleged that he drove the motorcar when the certificate of fitness was not in force.
Further, it has been alleged that while being the driver of the motorcar, he failed to stop when an accident occurred, which caused injury to the now dead man.
The other charges stated that he failed to report the accident to the Police station within 24 hours; used the vehicle while there was not an insurance policy in respect of third-party risk; and failed to take James for medical attention.
Besides the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, Benn pleaded guilty to the charge of driving the car when a licence under the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act was not in force.
He returns to court on December 8, 2021 for sentencing on the causing death by dangerous driving charge. On the other charge, he has been fined $20,000, in default of which he would serve one week’s imprisonment.
He pleaded not guilty to the other five charges.
It was reported that the Police rank was driving the motorcar proceeding east along the northern drive lane on Number 22 Bel Air Public Road, WCB at a fast rate of speed when he collided with James.
The injured man fell on the road and received injuries about his body, while Benn drove away from the scene.
James was picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The accident was subsequently reported to the Police, and Constable Benn was arrested on August 3, 2021.