BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER some 44 days of investigation, a Crown Counsel was finally charged for a traffic offence in which he was allegedly involved.
A release coming out of the Police Public Relations Department this morning (Oct. 24) states that Philmore Warner of The Alley in Sandy Point was formally arrested and charged for the offence of careless driving, which was committed on Sunday, September 8, 2013.
This publication was informed that Warner, a Crown Counsel, was charged on Monday (Oct. 21) and had appeared before a City Magistrate in Basseterre, who granted him pre-trial freedom with one condition.
He has to report to the police every Monday and Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. before his trial date.
The offence for which he was charged had occurred on the Island Main Road in Halfway Tree shortly after 2:00 a.m. on the day in question.
Investigation revealed that while the President of Sandy Pointers Inspiring Real Improvement Throughout (SPIRIT), Seanel Riley, was on his way to Basseterre with four passengers in his car, he had stopped in Halfway Tree in the vicinity of the Water Dam.
However, after exiting his car, another vehicle that was travelling in the opposite direction struck him and drove away. Riley was transported to the JNF Hospital, where he was warded for 10 days with a broken left leg and an injury to his left hip.
The passengers had reported the matter at the Sandy Point Police Station.
One of Riley’s close relatives, Deslyn Richards told this media house that “the statements the four passengers gave to the police corroborated with Seanel’s account of the accident and a certain prominent individual, who also lives in Sandy Point, was the suspected hit and run driver. He was apprehended by the police but was shortly after released after denying his involvement in that accident. There was compelling evidence that pointed to his vehicle being the one that struck Seanel”.
It was confirmed that Warner was held for questioning but subsequently released. However, investigations were ongoing, which realised the recent charge against him.
SKNVibes this morning contacted Riley for a comment on the matter and was told that he is “pleased with the work of the investigating officer…now that justice will be served”. But some family members are perturbed over the charge, noting that “careless driving is too small a charge for an offence of such nature”.
Taking into consideration what the family members said, SKNVibes sought the advice of a number of retired senior officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
According to Retired Commissioner of Police Calvin Fahie, if someone were involved in a traffic accident and fails to report it within 24 hours, that person could be charged for “failing to report an accident”.
He also explained that if an individual were involved in an accident and leaves the scene before a traffic officer arrives, or did not communicate with the other party (depending on the seriousness of the accident), he or she could be charged with “leaving the scene of an accident”.
Fahie further explained that in the case where an individual had caused an accident due to driving above the stipulated speed limit and in a reckless manner, that person should be charged for driving in a manner that is dangerous to the public.
From his explanation and discussions with other former senior officers, one of the latter claimed that from the circumstances surrounding the entire incident, more charges should have been proffered against the accused.
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