Police blamed for delay in high-profile accident case

WESTERN BUREAU:

An outstanding accident report, which is to be provided by the Accident and Reconstruction Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), is being blamed for a further delay in the almost one-year case against 47-year-old Delroy Rodney, the Westmoreland taxi operator who is charged with five counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

During Monday’s sitting of the Michaelmas session of the Westmoreland Circuit Court, the prosecution reported that it is now in possession of the post-mortem and medical examination reports, which were previously outstanding, leaving the accident report as the only outstanding item.

According to the prosecution, it has been four months since the case has been before the court, but the police have failed to produce a letter to support their statement that they were not able to examine the truck in which the accused man collided.

“I have received the post-mortem examination report that was outstanding, and I also received a medical certificate this morning (Monday). They will be prepared for disclosure to counsel,” the prosecution told the presiding judge, Justice Courtney Daye. “I am awaiting a further statement from an officer who is on the way with that document.”

Last June, the JCF, through a senior officer at the Area One Accident and Reconstruction Unit, informed the court that the force does not have the equipment needed or the requisite training to assess the black box of the Shacman truck which was involved in the crash that left five persons dead. Access to the information on the black box is critical to the defence’s case.

“Given the status of the file, what I will ask is for a plea and case management date hearing for disclosure of the documents that I have received this morning on counsel, and for us to agree on any agreement for the next step of the matter,” the prosecution told the court. Following that submission, the November 11 was decided on.

On November 13 last year, Rodney, who owns and operates a Toyota Voxy as a public passenger vehicle, was driving along a main road in the parish when his vehicle collided with a white Shacman motor truck, killing five people who were passengers in his vehicle.

After the accident, Rodney was charged with five counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Those who perished in the crash were identified as 15-year-old schoolgirl Lavecia Forrester and her 39-year-old mother, Petrina Wallace, of Gordon district, in Whitehouse; Oneil Allen and his mother, 65-year-old Angela Samuel of Mount Edgecombe; and 54-year-old Janet Thompson, of McAlpine.

Relatives of the accident victims and the accused man’s legal team were in court Monday, keenly watching the proceedings. Rodney’s legal team, which featured attorney-at-law Lambert Johnson, Faith Salmon and Shanique Sommerville, expressed a desire to do whatever they can to help move the case forward.

Rodney, who is out on bail on a $7-million bond, is required to report to the Bluefield’s Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.