Lorry driver gets 108 years for 2010 fatal accident

A lorry driver was on Thursday sentenced to a total of 108 years imprisonment after he was found guilty on 12 counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Chaitram Moonsammy, 42, of Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, received the sentence from Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Berbice Assizes.
On October 29, 2010, along the East Coast Berbice Highway, a lorry and a minibus collided resulting in the death of 12 people.
Moonsammy, the lorry driver, was on trial for driving motor lorry GLL 8863 in a

manner dangerous to the public, resulting in the deaths of Oudit Narine Babulall, Salmaa Razac, Marques Ault, Cindy Jaggernauth, Josiah Khan, Talika Mendonca, Patricia Asgarally, Salmar Juman, Orlando De Mattos, Nazaradin Mahinudin, Chetram Ramphal and Janet Baker; all of Number 19 Village.
The mixed jury found him guilty on a 10-2 majority. Attorney Mescaline Bacchus asked for leniency, stating the psychological impact of having to wait almost eight years for trial.
Bacchus argued that Moonsammy would have already been punished for the crime and called for the court not to impose a custodial sentence.
He said the 12 deaths were caused as a result of an accident and not an intentional offence.
However, Justice Reynolds said those psychological impacts will not outweigh public interest. The Judge also sounded a warning to would be errant drivers, saying there must be proper use of the country’s roadways.
“We are a country of less than a million people and can ill afford one death; we need all for the development of Guyana. We do not know what contributions those 12 would have made to the development of Guyana, the Judge stated.
Following the proceedings, some relatives of the deceased were seen dancing while others wept.
The father of four was arrested the very day of the accident and remanded on November 2, 2010. Twenty days later, he was granted bail.
Justice Reynolds said the court took into account all the mitigating factors which were presented and deducted one year leaving him with nine years for each count.
The prosecution’s case was presented by State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy. During the three and a half weeks of trial proceedings, the prosecution called 18 witnesses.