Rose Hall Town taxi driver involved in fatal accident granted $800k bail

A Rose Hall Town man has been granted bail following serious charges related to his involvement in a fatal accident in 2024.

Shakir Batson, 25, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Batson was charged with causing the death of 20-year-old Jainarine Rampersaud, formerly of Lot 233 Area ‘R’ Haswell Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.

Batson’s attorney, Sasha Roberts, argued that Batson poses no flight risk and assured the court of his commitment to attend all trial proceedings.

While Police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Edwards refrained from providing details of the case, he did not oppose the granting of bail.

Magistrate Matthias set bail at $800,000, stipulating that Batson must report to the Albion Police Station every other Friday at 9:00 AM.

The case is scheduled to be revisited on July 15, when the police are expected to present statements related to the incident.

Reports indicate that on October 27, 2024, 18-year-old Jainarine Rampersaud, a mechanic from Lot 223 Area ‘R’ Ankerville Port Mourant, was riding motorcycle CN 9498 with 15-year-old pillion rider Stephon Verrapen, also from Port Mourant.

They were traveling along the Hampshire, Corentyne, Berbice Public Road when Batson, in his vehicle, collided with them, causing both riders to fall onto the road.

Eyewitnesses reported that the driver of the vehicle, who had armed himself with a cutlass, claimed he was driving on the Corentyne Highway when the motorcycle unexpectedly struck his car, damaging its rear lights.

Both Rampersaud and Verrapen were taken to Port Mourant for medical care, but Rampersaud was later transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital and subsequently to Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on November 7, 2024.

Following the incident, the driver of the car was arrested.