Charged with causing death of Meten-meer-Zorg man

The 26-year-old driver who allegedly struck down and killed Mohamed Yussuff Ashraff on the Meten-meer-Zorg Public Road on Wednesday was yesterday placed on $300,000 bail after he was charged with three offences including causing death by dangerous driving.

Asif Azeez, a resident of Seafield, Leonora, West Coast Demerara was also charged with failing to render assistance and failing to stop after the accident.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.

He was granted $300,000 bail on the causing death by dangerous driving charge and was released on self-bail on the other two offences. The matter was adjourned to October 31. The body of Ashraff, 61, a resident of Lot 155 East Meten-meer-Zorg, WCD was on Wednesday morning found in a drain along the Meten-meer-Zorg Public Road, West Coast Demerara, hours after the accident.

He sustained head injuries and was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Azeez was arrested by the police later in the day. The police in a statement had said that Azeez related to investigators that at about 4 am Wednesday, he was proceeding in motor car, PMM 321 east along the northern carriageway of the public road when the vehicle suddenly veered and struck down an object.

Azeez was subjected to a breathalyzer test which revealed that he had no alcohol on his breath.