‘Lawless’ driver sent to jail on four traffic offences

Senior magistrate, Rickie Burnett, this week described the behaviour of a repeat offender as “lawless” before sentencing him to six months in prison.

Murray’s Village/ Fairbairn Pasture resident, Kamal Garraway was given a prison sentence when he appeared in the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on February 15, on four offences.

The man faced two charges that on June 26, 2021 at Bentick Square, and on July 27, 2021 at the Murray’s Village public road, being the driver of motor vehicle R5192, he did drive that said vehicle whilst being disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving permit for a period of six months.

This order was handed down by the Serious Offences Court in March, 2021, but Garraway was found to be in breach of the order.

His other two charges were that on June 26, 2021, and July 27, 2021, being the driver of motor vehicle R5192, he did use that said motor vehicle without there being in force a policy of insurance in respect of third party risk of the said vehicle.

Garraway, who has had previous traffic related matters and had been sentenced to prison earlier that same year (2021) on different charges, had been released by the Prerogative of Mercy Committee before he completed the full sentence.

He was sent back to prison by the Senior Magistrate on Wednesday, February 15.

Garraway’s lawyer, Michael Wyllie had asked the court to impose a fine on the defendant. However, the Senior Magistrate’s response was that, “You want a fine for him because he is your client. I appreciate that, but look at a lawless man before the court, that is how I describe him. He has no regard for any law.”

Garraway was sentenced to three months imprisonment on the June, 2021 charge for driving while being disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving permit for six months.

He will also spend two months in prison for driving the vehicle without there being in force a policy of insurance in respect of third party risk. Both sentences will run concurrently.

In relation to the two July, 2021 charges, Garraway will spend an additional three months for being in breach of the Court’s order in March, 2021, and two months in relation to the charge of driving an unlicensed vehicle.

These sentences will also run concurrently.

Garraway will therefore spend six months in prison for the traffic offences.

According to the facts on March 24, 2021, the Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne, presiding in the Serious Offences Court, had disqualified Garraway from holding or obtaining a driving permit for six months under the offences of no driving permit, uninsured motor vehicle, unlicensed vehicle and fraudulent use of registration number.

He was found to be in breach of this Court order in June, 2021.

On June 27, at about 3:55 p.m upon information received, corporal 189 Caesar, constable 179 Fisher, and constable 51 Barbour left the Central Police Station and on reaching the vicinity of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, the defendant was met in motor vehicle R 5192 travelling into the city.

The police transport was used to block the car and the defendant was asked to exit the driver’s seat which he did. Both the defendant and the vehicle were taken to the Central Police Station.

Constable Fisher informed Garraway of the offences of driving while being disqualified and using an uninsured motor vehicle.

He was arrested and charged for the offences.

In respect of the offences committed in July, 27, 2021 at about 1:30 p.m that day constable 379 Hamilton was on mobile patrol duties along the Murray’s Village public road along with a party of Rapid Response Unit (RRU) personnel.

Hamilton observed motor vehicle R 5192 coming from the direction of Dickson Garage heading towards the Apostolic Faith Church.

The defendant, Garraway, was observed to be the driver of that vehicle. Hamilton knew that the driver had been suspended from having a driving permit. As a result, the siren was turned on and a chase ensued. Garraway stopped the vehicle and fled leaving his pregnant girlfriend inside.

She was questioned and she said “he run through dey”, and “oh God why Kamal run leave me?”

The vehicle was taken into police custody. A warrant was issued and Garraway was arrested and charged.