Gary Best, was today freed of a DUI charge after a City magistrate upheld a no-case submission.
Best, a former advisor to former President, David Granger, was on trial before Magistrate Clive Nurse in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
It was alleged that on February 8, 2020, at Clive Lloyd Drive, Greater Georgetown, he 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).
This afternoon, the Magistrate upheld a no case submission made by Best’s attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes during the trial.
The magistrate dismissed the charge after stating that the prosecution failed to provide evidence to the court. He further stated that no evidence was put to the court to prove that the Minister approved the breathalyzer instrument. He said that there was no evidence before the court that the Minister authorized for the police Constable to use the instrument either.
In January, Best’s lawyers Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, and Sophia Findlay filed a no-case submission arguing that the prosecution failed to provide substantial evidence to prove that Best was driving under the influence. In response, Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh on Wednesday laid over a written submission to the court.
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.
On February 8, 2019, 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 proven to be untrue by a motorist who released dashcam footage of Bentley 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.
