Good Samaritan placed on bond

A YOUNG MAN who played the part of a Good Samaritan by pushing a drunk old man out of the path of a reversing car, ended up being charged with the man’s murder, but Justice Rajendra Narine yesterday placed the man on a bond after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.  Narine warned that it was only because of the rare and exceptional circumstances in this case that he was placing Ryan Khan on a bond in $20,000 to be of good behaviour and keep the peace for five years. If the bond is broken Khan will have to serve a three-year prison term.

The court also noted that Khan had already spent about five prison years behind bars awaiting his trial. Khan 24, of Maturita Village, Church Street, Arima, was charged with the murder of Kenniff James, 60, of the same area. He was represented by attorney Ricky  Rahim while Cheron Raphael was the State prosecutor. In passing sentence in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court yesterday, Justice Narine recalled Rahim’s plea in mitigation, that Khan’s act of kindness of pushing James out of the way of the car was repaid with violence. James pulled a knife and slashed Khan on his neck and arm. Khan, who was also drunk, walked away, and returned to the bar at the Cauldron Big Yard in Arima, where they were liming.