PNP councillor to face preliminary hearing in death of ‘Tappa’s’ son

WESTERN BUREAU:

Councillor Sylvan Reid, who is facing charges of causing death by dangerous driving arising from the death of Jevaughn Whitmore, the son of former Reggae Boyz star, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, will undergo a preliminary hearing in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's (RM) Court on May 26.

Reid, who won the Salt Spring division in the St James Parish Council on the ruling People's National Party (PNP) ticket in the last local government elections, has steadfastly denied that he was behind the steering wheel of the vehicle which killed young Whitmore in 2013.

When the case came up for mention in court on Wednesday, attorney-at-law Tamika Spencer, who is part of Reid's defence team, told RM Carolyn Tie that there would be a change of prosecutors in the case, and as such, a meeting would need to be held to determine the way forward.

"I understand there is to be another clerk in this court next week, because this matter is set for a preliminary hearing and the former clerk no longer has conduct of this matter," said attorney Spencer. "... I could make myself available to meet with the clerk who will now have control of this matter."

no date decided

It is unclear as to when the meeting between the new clerk and the attorney will take place as no date was decided on during the court hearing.

Whitmore, a student at Cornwall College at the time of his death, was also a promising young footballer at Montego Bay Football Club, where he was a part of the club's youth football programme. He was reportedly on his way home from training when he was hit by a Mitsubishi Pajero, which Reid had bought from the St James Parish Council.

Persons, who reportedly witnessed the incident which occurred at the intersection of Retirement Road and Tucker Avenue - a few blocks from the youngster's home, claimed that Reid was one of two persons who alighted from the vehicle and left the scene after the accident.

Approximately two hours after the accident, Reid allegedly showed up at the Granville Police Station and reported that the vehicle was stolen from a farm he owns in the Retirement area.

A file on the case was submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and it was decided that Reid should be arrested and charged.