Truck driver guilty of dangerous driving

TRUCK driver Nazir Ali was found guilty of dangerous driving by a jury in the San Fernando High Court yesterday. He was charged following an accident in which pensioner Henry Smith was killed at the San Fernando Bypass. Ali, 53, had been on trial for motor manslaughter, but the jury found him guilty on the lesser charge. Justice Melville Baird will sentence Ali, a father of three, on Monday.

Smith, of Blitz Village, Pleasantville, was killed instantly after Ali’s truck and trailer ran off the road on March 11, 1997. The trial was heard over the last two weeks before Justice Baird. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore Paul led evidence that Smith was standing at the Blitz Village junction, when Ali’s truck dragged him for about 25 feet along the Bypass. Smith was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Smith’s son, Errol, who was standing on the road with his father, testified about the incident. A post-mortem conducted by Dr Hughvon des Vignes revealed that Smith died from multiple injuries consistent with a road traffic accident. Ali was charged by Sgt Hansraj Ali with motor manslaughter. The jury announced that Ali was not guilty of manslaughter, but guilty of dangerous driving. In a plea of mitigation, Ali’s attorney, Capildeo Maharaj, said his client had an “unblemished record” and asked Justice Baird not to impose a custodial sentence. Maharaj said since the accident, Ali was dismissed from his job and the insurance company did not offer him any assistance. Justice Baird will pronounce sentence on Monday.