WESTERN BUREAU:

A motorist who allegedly hit and killed a pedestrian and injured another to avoid a collision on the Rose Hall main road, St James was granted bail in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Vernal Beckford, a 27-year-old vendor of Round Hill in Hanover, was charged with manslaughter. The charge stems from the death of 45-year-old Leroy Wright of Bog Walk, St Catherine. A woman injured in the incident is still being treated at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.

Allegations are that about 2 p.m. on September 24, Beckford was driving a Toyota Corolla motor car towards Montego Bay. It is said that, on reaching a section of the roadway, in front of the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, he swerved to avoid hitting another car that was making a U-turn and hit Wright and the woman in the process.

Speeding

Wright was pronounced dead at the MoBay Hope Hospital. The investigating officer told the court that the accused was speeding.

However, in a bail application before Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry, attorney Morrel Beckford said the issue of speeding would be fully ventilated at trial as that is being contested by the defence.

Henry made enquiries about the alleged driver, whom Beckford had swerved from, and was told that the man could not be found, as he did not stop.

The court was also informed that prosecution is awaiting a statement from a witness who resides out of parish to clear up some questions as to what really transpired on the day in question.

In the meantime, Beckford was offered bail in the sum of $250,000 and ordered to report to the Montego Freeport Police Station on Thursdays. The matter is scheduled for mention on November 11.