BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE drivers involved in the May 27, 2012 crash that took place along the Kim Collins Highway were convicted and fined at a sitting of the Basseterre Traffic Court on June 7, 2012.
Appearing before Her Worship Josephine Mallelieu-Webbe, Varum Atre of Frigate Bay was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and Sunil Liddie of Lime Kiln was charged with driving without a driver’s licence.
Both – as this media house understands – pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Atre was fined $1 500 to be paid forthwith or serve three months at Her majesty’s Prison and was also disqualified from driving for a 12-month period.
He also pleaded not guilty to “driving without due care and attention” and was issued a $500 fine.
Liddie was fined $500 to be paid by the end of August 2012 or serve one month at Her Majesty’s Prison.
The other offence of which he was charged and to which he admitted guilt – driving without insurance – attracted a fine of $1 000 which also has to be paid by the end of August, 2012 or a three-month custodial sentence will be imposed.
As an additional consequence, Liddie was disqualified from obtaining a driver’s licence for three months.
Circumstances
On the night of the incident, Liddie was driving motorcar PA4668 and Varum was driving motor jeep P9397. The latter was travelling from the airport end of the road towards the direction of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank with the former travelling in the opposite direction.
The vehicles collided and – according to the Traffic Department – “ended up on the grass on the eastern side of the road”.
Both drivers, along with the occupants of P9397 were transported to the Joseph N. France General Hospital for treatment. And all were discharged expect Liddie who was admitted for further treatment.
Other convictions
A number of other individuals who appeared before the court during that sitting, also pleaded guilty to the traffic offences for which they were charged.
James Webbe of Cardin Avenue was fined $200 for an August 14, 2012 offence of driving without due care and attention. The sum was to have been paid forthwith or a one-week custodial sentence would be imposed.
Cayon resident Lacil Fraites was cautioned for February 7, 2012 offences of driving without insurance and driving an unlicenced vehicle.
Haynes Smith Villager Elvis Richardson confessed to November 11, 2011 offences of driving under the influence and driving without insurance.
He was fined $1 500 each on the first and second offences and was also disqualified from holding a driver’s license for a 12-month period. The sums are to be paid within three weeks or he faces the imposition of a three-month custodial sentence.
For driving without a driver’s licence and driving without insurance, Eustace Martin of Upper College Street was fined $300 and $700 respectively. Both sums are to be paid within one week or serve one month’s imprisonment. The offences were committed on April 26, 2012.
Upper Fiennes Avenue resident Noel Stevens, for driving without due care and attention, was fined $200 to be paid within one day or serve one month in prison.
A $400-fine has to be paid by Joseph Brookes of Conaree for committing a January 25, 2012 offence of driving without due care and attention. He had one day to pay the fine or serve one month behind bars.
Nathan Persaud of Lower Monkey Hill – for the offence of driving without insurance – was fined $1 000 to be paid forthwith or in default, he would be made to take up residence at Her Majesty’s Prison for one month. The offence was committed on May 23, 2012.
Frigate Bay resident Robert Bovino was fined $1 000 – to be paid forthwith – for a May 23, 2012 offence of driving without insurance.
