April 18, 2024
Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Jamaica
LATEST NEWS THE COURTS

9 TRIAL DATES LATER…… Man, to return to court for causing deaths of 3 security guards by dangerous driving

The trial of a man charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving, was rescheduled after one witness attended the St Ann Circuit Court on Wednesday, November 1.

The man, Christian Sweeney, had his bail extended to return to court for what is expected to be the final trial date of May 7, 2018.

Sweeney was charged following investigations into a fatal crash – more than five years ago — on Saturday, June 18, 2011 that saw three security guards being killed when a Toyota Liteace minibus they were travelling in crashed head on with a Nissan pickup being driven by Sweeney.

The security guards that died from their injuries in the crash were: 27-year-old Damion Simpson of Reach district in Portland, 54-year-olf Jeffrey Wright of Maiden Lane in Kingston and 36-year- old Richard Lowe of Darliston in Westmoreland.

In court last Wednesday, prosecutors revealed that the case, which was on the trial list for the ninth time, was not ready. Only one witness was available.

The crown was also having difficulties with the main witness.

Presiding judge Dale Palmer set a final trial date next year.

The accused man had his bail extended and he is no longer required to report to the police.

Reports are that at about 5:55 a.m. on June 28, 2011, Simpson, Wright and Lowe, who were employed to the Mica Security Company, were among a group of six travelling in a Toyota Liteace minibus heading east towards Runaway Bay.

The bus with the six men collided in the vicinity of the Green Grotto Caves, near Discovery Bay with a Nissan Navara pick-up going in the opposite direction, toward Montego Bay.

Police at the time had said that investigations showed that the Nissan pickup drifted onto the opposite side of the roadway, resulting in the head on collision with the Toyota Liteace.

Wright and Lowe were pronounced dead at hospital, while Simpson died later that day.

Three other guards and the driver of the pickup, Sweeney were hospitalized with injuries. Following his release from hospital Sweeney was arrested and charged.