-gets $50,000 fine

Charged a little over a year ago with causing the death of a pedestrian, Tower Suites Hotel driver Wayne Christiani was yesterday found guilty of the lesser count of dangerous driving and fined $50,000.

Christiani, 23, of Lot 253 Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, had been charged with driving PRR 2605 in a manner dangerous to the public on April 22nd, 2017, at Eccles Public Road, thereby causing the death of William Stanford.

At the conclusion of his trial yesterday, Magistrate Fabayo Azore told Christiani that based on the evidence presented by the prosecution, there was no proof that his dangerous driving led to the death of Stanford.

She stated, however, that from the evidence that she was satisfied that the accused drove dangerously on the day of the accident. She then found him not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving but guilty of dangerous driving.

In mitigation, attorney Keoma Griffith, who represented the accused, urged the court to impose a fine on the defendant, given his youth and unblemished character.

Magistrate Azore subsequently fined Christiani $50,000 or a sentence of three months in jail if he cannot pay the fine.

“It happened how it happened and you know how it happened,” the magistrate told Christiani. He was then encouraged to drive wisely and to not be present in court again.

The police’s case was presented by police prosecutor Dominic Bess.