Prayers and crying — driver freed of motor manslaughter charge

Randall Blackman, a Ministry of Health driver yesterday made a mad dash from the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court  after a jury found him not guilty of the motor manslaughter of a 12-year-old boy.  Blackman’s relatives followed him and began praying and crying in relief.

The nine-member jury comprising of seven women and two men deliberated for two and half hours before relating the verdict to Justice Malcolm Holdip. Blackman, 31, was freed of the motor manslaughter of Nicholas Johnson at Madras Road, Cunupia, on May 1, 2000. He was also found not guilty of the lesser charge of dangerous driving. Defence counsel, Israel Khan SC, presented evidence that the accused’s vision was hindered while driving by smoke from a bush fire. The accused claimed that he was driving at a speed of less than 20 miles per hour when he struck the child who was crossing the road. There were no witnesses. Blackman said  he did not see the child until he was struck by the car.

PCs Sagid Karim and Indrath Ramlochan also gave evidence. They failed to take measurements and photographs of the point of impact, according to the accused. The prosecution accused Blackman of gross negligent driving. The State’s key witness, Indra Maharaj, testified that Blackman overtook a slow moving truck and was driving very fast when he struck the boy who was walking on the road. She also denied the presence of smoke on that day. Following the verdict, Justice Holdip told Blackman he was free to go.