Judge to rule whether teacher should stand trial in Circuit Court

WESTERN BUREAU:

Kerry-Ann Cunningham, the St James teacher charged in connection with the death of Anchovy Primary School student, Easton Stapleton, will learn on April 17 whether she will stand trial in the St James Circuit Court.

It was anticipated that Cunningham, who is charged with causing death by dangerous driving, would have received that ruling on Thursday, when she appeared in the St James Parish Court. However, presiding judge Annette Austin deferred her ruling and set the new court date after Cunningham’s lawyer, Jacqueline Minto, made a legal submission stating that her client should not have to undergo trial in the Circuit Court.

Cunningham’s bail was extended to April 17, at which time it is expected that Judge Austin will decide whether to transfer the case to the circuit court based on the prosecution’s evidence and Minto’s submission.

To date, the case has had five different committal hearing dates, beginning with the first date of November 14, last year. At that time, the date was rescheduled to December 5 and then to February 27 as full disclosure of documents had not been done.

According to reports, at approximately 4 p.m. on June 12, 2018, Cunningham was reversing when she lost control of the vehicle at the Anchovy Primary School. The car struck and killed Stapleton before crashing into a wall, a section of which then collapsed and injured a vendor.

Cunningham, who was badly traumatised by the incident, had to be hospitalised. Classes were suspended at the school the following day.

Following investigations, Cunningham was arrested and charged. She was offered station bail prior to making her first court appearance on Tuesday, July 10.