Englishman in court for manslaughter

The preliminary inquiry into the motor manslaughter charges laid against English university student Miles O’Connor resumed yesterday. The State called two more witnesses to testify in the matter. Taking the witness stand yesterday was Jivan Supersad, a motor vehicle inspector with the Ministry of Works and Transport. Supersad was led in evidence by police prosecutor Cpl Edwin Alexander. He also led the other witness, WP Cpl Carol Hickson of the Barataria Police Station,  the complainant in the matter. Both witnesses gave evidence before Magistrate Gillian David in the Port-of-Spain Seventh Magi-strates’ Court.

Karl Hudson-Phillips QC, who appeared for O’Connor, cross-examined both witnesses. Following the evidence of the witnesses, the prosecutor told the magistrate that provisions had been made for another witness, a Venezuelan national, to testify in the matter, but after speaking to his superiors, he was told that the witness, Jesus Alberto Carrero, was unable to attend. O’Connor, 24, is charged with driving motor vehicle PBE 3413 in a dangerous manner on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway Extension, Morvant, on December 25, 2003, causing the deaths of Venezuelan Jose Alexis Gonzales Berbesie and Dhanmattie Harrilal. Hearing resumes today.