Dad in court for reckless driving

A 45-YEAR-OLD straightener/ painter and another man appeared before a Siparia magistrate yesterday to answer several charges including reckless and dangerous driving which led to the painter’s two daughters being hospitalised with minor injuries after a car crashed into the painter’s home, injuring the girls. Vijay Ramnarinesingh appeared before Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle in the Second Court along with Johanson Benjamin, 41, of Guerra Trace, Siparia.

Benjamin pleaded not guilty to charges of aiding and abetting Ramnarinesingh in driving his (Benjamin) vehicle, though Ramnarinesingh is not the holder of a driver’s permit. The men were charged by  PC Doodnath Harripersad of the Penal Police Station. Cpl Trevor Bernard was the court prosecutor. Ramnarinesingh was charged with driving without due care and attention (reckless driving) and driving in a manner dangerous to the public (dangerous driving). The father of four pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted his own bond in the sum of $5,000. He was also charged with driving without a driver’s permit and insurance — to which he pleaded guilty.

For driving without a permit, Ramnarinesingh was fined $500 which he has to pay within two weeks or face three months imprisonment. He was fined $800 on the driving without insurance and disqualified from acquiring a licence for 12 months. He was given two weeks to pay the $800 fine or in default, faces three months imprisonment. Police allege Ramnarinesingh drove the car into his two daughters at their Isaac Trace, Morne Diablo home last Sunday.

His daughters — Lisa Deonarinesingh, 12, and Mellisa Deonarinesingh, 19, were warded at San Fernando General Hospital. Lisa was treated and discharged while Mellisa was still warded up to late yesterday with a broken hip and cuts and bruises. Attorney Roopnarine Soorjan Singh represented both men. Ramnarinesingh’s wife Leela Harripersad, who is also the mother of the two victims, sat quietly in court with her relatives and Benjamin’s family. Benjamin was charged with aiding and abetting Ramnarinesingh to drive the vehicle knowing he (Ramnarinesingh) was not the holder of a driver’s permit. Benjamin pleaded not guilty and was placed on his own bond of $1,000. Both men will reappear in court on July 16.