A St Ann's man was released on bail after he appeared before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate yesterday charged with causing the death of businessman Ramon Sabga by dangerous driving.Joshua Etienne, 20, of Ariapita Road, St Ann's, stood before Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan in the Fourth (A) Court, at about the time the funeral service for Sabga was taking place at the Church of the Assumption, Maraval.Sabga, 70, was killed in a vehicular accident late Friday along St Clair Avenue, St Clair.
On reaching the intersection of Alexandra Street and St Clair Avenue, another car slammed into Sabga's vehicle, critically injuring him. He died on route to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.Etienne was not called upon to plea on the charge.The accused, who was represented by attorney Patrick Godson-Phillips, pleaded "not guilty" to six other charges, including driving off from the scene of an accident; failing to render assistance to a person injured in an accident and driving while over the limit of alcohol.
He was charged by Detective Cpl Jitindra Toolaram, of the St Clair CID.Etienne, an employee in the meat section of Hi-Lo, St Ann's, was released on $150,000 bail with his mother named as surety.Prosecutor Sgt Barry Parsanlal did not object to bail.The accused was ordered to report to the Belmont Police Station on Saturdays between 7 am and 7 pm.The matters were transferred to the Eighth Court, where he would reappear on March 1.
The charges
• It is alleged that on February 11, 2011 at the intersection of St Clair Avenue and Alexandra Street, St Clair, Joshua Etienne drove dangerously, causing the death of Ramon Sabga;
• it is alleged that on the same date and at the same time Etienne failed to render aid to a person injured in a vehicular accident;
• it is also alleged he drove a motor vehicle while exceeding the legal level of intoxication;
• it is alleged that he drove motor vehicle PBB 5814 without the consent of the owner;
• it is alleged that he drove motor vehicle PBB 5814 without a certificate of insurance;
• he is accused of driving a motor vehicle while not being the holder of a valid driver's permit; and,
• he is also accused of failing to proceed to the nearest police station or police officer in a vehicular accident where a person was injured.