Cop charged after family’s painful year of silence
Published:Friday | January 26, 2024 | 12:13 AMGareth Davis Sr/Gleaner Writer
Port Maria, St Mary:
Constable O’Troy Stewart, who allegedly slammed head-on into a parked vehicle owned by Linval Williams, resulting in Williams’ death days later, was offered bail yesterday in the sum of $500,000 with sureties when he appeared in the St Mary Parish Court.
Stewart, who was accompanied by his wife, Rushel Abraham Stewart, had his case put off until March 14, 2024, and according to presiding Judge Georgette Grant, the delay is to ensure that the case files are made available for the matter to proceed.
In court yesterday, Stewart’s attorney, Pierre Rogers, made a bail application that was approved, but not before the presiding judge pointed out the severity of the incident that resulted in the loss of the life of a resident who was mowed down just outside his gate.
At the time of the vehicular accident, Williams was packing farm produce into the trunk of his vehicle at his gate on the morning of August 13, 2022, as was customary. The produce was to be sold to residents in and around his community of Windsor Castle, St Mary.
His routine was violently disrupted when a car, reportedly driven by Stewart, slammed head-on into Williams’ parked automobile. The impact sent the 66-year-old man- hurtling through the trunk, landing in the front of his car. His vehicle was also pushed to the other side of the road.
Paralysed from the chest down, Williams spent seven days in hospital before succumbing to the injuries.
SON SEEKING JUSTICE
It was his son, Craig Williams, who took up the matter in a quest to seek justice on behalf of his father, and despite the many roadblocks encountered, remained determined that he would fight until the very end.
Last month, The Sunday Gleaner brought the case to public attention.
Now, almost a year after the tragic incident, the director of public prosecutions ruled that Stewart had a case to answer and that he should be criminally charged.
Stewart was formally arrested yesterday morning, charged with causing death by dangerous driving, and later taken to court.
As part of his bail condition, Stewart, who lives in St Catherine, is to report to the Old Harbour police every Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and is to surrender his travel documents. A stop order is also being placed at all ports.