Case of alleged reckless driver postponed for more evidence

THE TRIAL against a man accused of causing the deaths of three people after he allegedly failed to stop at a red traffic light was adjourned until November for further State evidence.

Shalan Sewshanker, 29, is in the dock for the deaths of Eureka Govender, 30, Marlon Pillay, 32, and Duveshnee Naicker, 24, on the R102 near Ottawa on June 15, 2011.

The trio used to carpool to and from work in the Durban city centre.

Govender worked in the accounts department at a butchery, Pillay was an accountant and Naicker had been serving her articles at a law firm.

According to the evidence heard at the start of the trial in the Verulam Regional Court, the deceased were returning home at the time.

They were turning into Ottawa when Sewshanker, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, skipped a red traffic light and crashed into their car.

Pillay, who was driving, died at the scene along with Govender.

Naicker succumbed to her injuries in hospital.

Sewshanker was charged with three counts of culpable homicide, a count of driving under the influence of alcohol. He also denied he had been driving recklessly or negligently.

The case was dismissed in 2011 but was reinstated last year.

Sewshanker was not arrested but summoned to the Verulam Regional Court for proceedings.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, claiming the traffic light was green and in his favour.

The accused denied he was under the influence of intoxicating liquor and that he was reckless or negligent.

The court also heard from five witnesses who were called to the stand by senior State prosecutor, Rakesh Singh.

The last to take the stand was attorney Pranil Rajcoomar who testified on count five – reckless or negligent driving.

He said that on the day of the accident, he remembered heading towards uMhlanga on the R102 when he saw the accused switch lanes at high speed.

He said the accused was reckless in that he crossed the intersection from a lane which did not permit him to do so and he disregarded a red traffic light.