A 26-year-old man who was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on September 9, 2019, has now moved to appeal his conviction as he seeks to have the sentence overturned.
Bishram Ramkishore was recently released on $500,000 bail by High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon, pending the appeal.
The fence into which Bishram Ramkishore crashed. Inset is the damaged car
Reports are that 26-year-old Bishram Ramkishore of Lot 29 Good Fortuin, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was driving motor car PTT 6297 along the Vreed-en-Hoop Public Road on the WCD with his friends Victor Aditya Ram and 23-year-old Kevin Henry of Lot 22 Good Fortuin, as passengers.
He was driving along New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD, at about 01:50h, and while in the vicinity of the Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company, a pedestrian allegedly began crossing the road, and to avoid hitting the pedestrian, Ramkishore reportedly swerved his vehicle but lost control and crashed into a metal signboard before slamming into a concrete fence.
All three young men sustained injuries and were immediately rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where Aditya Ram was pronounced dead on arrival.
According to court documents seen by this publication, Ramkishore had suffered severe head and skull injuries and was later transferred to a private city hospital, where he was placed on life support.
Ramkishore’s lawyer, Melvin Duke, stated that the injuries his client received have caused him to be permanently disabled, virtually helpless, barely able to walk, and speak with a prolonged slur.
Duke said that his client attempted to settle this detrimental situation with the family of the deceased but was unsuccessful because of the large and unreasonable sum of money they are demanding.
The lawyer contended that his client’s conviction and sentence cannot stand and must be set aside because, during the trial, the surviving rear-seat passenger changed his story and testified contrary to the statement given to the police.
He further affirmed that despite the glaring inconsistency in the differing accounts of the rear-seat passenger, the learned Magistrate found Ramkishore guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. (G1)
