Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, and Sophia Findlay have asked the court to throw out the driving under the influence charge against Gary Best.
In a no-case submission filed today, the attorneys contended that the prosecution failed to provide substantial evidence to prove that Best was driving under the influence.
The prosecution will reply to the no-case submission on January 20, 2021.
Best, a former advisor to former President David Granger, was on December 3, 2020, freed of a causing death by dangerous driving charge by Magistrate Rondel Weever.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack has since filed an appeal against the ruling made by Magistrate Weever to free Best.
It is alleged that on February 8, 2020, at Clive Lloyd Driver, Greater Georgetown, Best drove motor vehicle PRR 8182 when his blood alcohol level was 85 micrograms- above the legal limit. He pleaded not guilty to this charge and was released on his own recognizance (self bail).
On February 8, last, Bentley was riding his cycle around 05:00 hrs—heading east on Clive Lloyd Drive 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 to the police, he 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 Bentley’s dashcam footage just a few minutes before he was killed. The video showed Bentley wearing reflective gear.
In fact, these items were discovered—mangled at the scene of the accident. What was not found, though, is the dashcam footage on Best’s black Land Cruiser. Best claimed that the camera was not working at the time of the accident.
