It has been more than a week since former national cyclist, Jude Bentley, was killed in an accident on the Rupert Craig Highway, East Coast Demerara (ECD) in the vicinity of the Russian Embassy and there has not been any charges.
The driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident has been identified as Retired Rear Admiral, Gary Best, a PNCR Executive member. Many are of the that Best’s political background is the reason why he hasn’t been charged as yet.
This morning, Traffic Chief, Linden Isles said that the investigation has not been completed as yet but in most cases, when persons have lost their lives in road carnage, charges are laid within the first three days. He did not say what was stalling the investigation.
For comparison purposes, 27-year-old Quacy De Cunha was charged with causing death by dangerous driving on January 27, last and released on $1.5M bail—three days after he killed 47-year-old Dhanraj Budhram in an accident.
Best, on the other hand, was released on $100,000 station bail following the accident and he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Two Saturdays ago, Bentley was riding his cycle around 05:00 hrs—heading east on the Rupert Craig Highway when he was struck and killed.
At the time of the accident, he was proceeding to Sheriff Street to meet a group of cyclists.
In Best’s statement, the suspect claimed that the cyclist was riding without reflective gear and his cycle was not equipped with lights, making it difficult to see him in the dark.
However, this claim has since been proven to be untrue by a motorist, who released a dash cam footage of Bentley just a few minutes before he was killed. The video showed the deceased wearing reflective gear and his cycle had lights.
In fact, these items were discovered—mangled at the scene of the accident. What was not found though is the dash cam footage on the suspect’s black Land Cruiser.
Best claimed that the camera was not working.
