Retired teacher banned from driving

WITH mixed emotions, retired school teacher Danae Persad hugged her relatives after a High Court judge did not impose a custodial sentence on her for causing the death of a 23-year-old man by dangerous driving two years ago.

However, Persad, 53, appeared speechless after Justice Prakash Moosai, in the San Fernando High Court, instead disqualified her from driving or holding a driver’s permit for the next 15 years.  Commenting on the sentence, Persad told reporters, “I am pleased about what happened in court today, but I am extremely sorry for causing the accident.” Justice Moosai commented that he believed the accused was filled with genuine shock and remorse about the incident. The judge said he believed Persad had taken the basic steps in the emergency situation, but sadly, the accident still resulted in Pharai’s death. “Prison will seem to serve no purpose,” Justice Moosai said, adding that the situation was not aggravated by drunken driving, drugs or excessive speeding.

On Tuesday the retired home economics teacher pleaded guilty to driving dangerously which caused the death of Ed Pharai, a machinist, on the morning of September 5, 2001. The accused had just driven away from her house on Solomon Street, Princes Town and some distance away to avoid a collision, she swerved into an open yard where she struck Pharai, of Cedar Hill, Princes Town, who was awaiting transportation to go to work. Persad said the deceased’s wife had greeted her when she saw her after the fatal accident, and did not believe she bore a grudge against her. Persad’s husband said Pharai’s father had refused to speak with them. Defence attorney Prakash Ramadhar told the court that the accused, who had not driven a vehicle since the day of the fatal accident, was never prosecuted for any driving offence nor was she previously involved in any vehicular accident.