No black box documents, nurse’s manslaughter case delayed
Published:Wednesday | March 6, 2019 | 12:00 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The highly anticipated committal hearing for Dana Minto, the St James nurse who is facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving in relation to the deaths of two persons, was rescheduled yesterday when she appeared before the St James Parish Court.
During what was a brief court hearing, attorney-at-law Trevor Ho Lyn, who is representing Minto, informed Parish Judge Natalie Creary-Dixon that he and the prosecution had agreed on the new date because documents relating to the black box of his client’s vehicle are still outstanding.
“The clerk of the court informs me that the investigating officer is not here, and there was some information to be provided in relation to the black box, but he (the officer) has not provided it, so we’ve agreed on a mention date set for April 1,” said Ho Lyn.
In response to Ho Lyn’s statement, Creary-Dixon extended Minto’s bail until April 1 and instructed the court’s police liaison officer to advise the investigating officer of the new date.
Minto’s committal hearing, which is part of the procedure to transfer the case to the St James Circuit Court, was previously set for September 21 and then November 9. Following the second missed committal hearing, a new date was set for yesterday.
Minto was arrested and charged following the November 13, 2017, accident in which the Toyota Ipsum motor vehicle she was driving along Felicity Road in Glendevon got out of control and struck persons while she was allegedly trying to overtake another vehicle.
Fifteen-year-old Shantae Rose, a grade 10 student of Green Pond High School, also in St James, and 52-year-old Franklin Hylton were killed on the spot. Rose’s mother and sister were hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries.
Following the accident, Minto reportedly jumped from her vehicle and fled the scene. She subsequently surrendered to the police and was arrested and charged.