No document presented to show state of jet-ski
The case against the man who has been charged for manslaughter in an Ocho Rios jet ski accident in which a child was killed, continued in the St. Ann Resident Magistrate Court on Thursday, October 23.
As the case continued, it was revealed to the court that some of the witnesses, to include the police officer who took the child to the hospital, had the chikungunya virus and were unable to attend the sitting to present evidence.
However, Austin Lobban, the marine inspector from the Maritime Authority of Jamaica who inspected the jet ski following the accident presented evidence to the court.
Attorney Linton Gordon, who is representing the accused Ranwan Mandyal, objected to the marine inspector being used as a witness in the case as he was not provided with a witness statement and said there was no evidence that the witness received training in the operation and inspection of jet skis.
However, after the marine inspector outlined what his job entailed, the lawyer agreed that he was qualified enough to present the evidence.
The marine inspector was then cross examined by Gordon.
The father of the deceased presented evidence to the court on Tuesday, October 21.
Lenworth Francis who is the owner of the jet ski involved in the accident also took the stand on the same day.
However, he was unable to provide documents to prove that the jet ski was fit in August 2013 when the accident took place.
There were no licensing, insurance or certificate of registration documents presented to the court.
In addition, two persons whose names appear on the jet ski documents are unable to be located.
The aunt of the deceased who was present at the time of the accident also took the stand to give evidence.
” I heard a sound like a motor coming from the sea,” she said tearfully. When I look towards the sea it was a jet ski coming towards the shore in my direction.”
She said she grabbed two of her nieces to get out of the way and she did not know what happened after that. She then woke up in the hospital.
Another witness who was in the water at the time of the accident and who was also injured took the stand to give evidence.
“The jet ski hit mi pon mi left shoulder and mi drop inna di water and knock out,” she recalled
She said when she regained consciousness she was on the sand and a lifeguard was holding her up because she was feeling pains. She said she was then placed on a stretcher and taken to the St. Ann’s Bay Hospital.
Tanoya Hyman was killed and others injured, in a jet ski accident which occurred on August 17, 2014 at the Turtle Towers Beach in Ocho Rios St Ann. She and family members were on the beach when the out of control jet ski ploughed into the group. Ranwan Mandyal, an Indian national who was on holiday here from work in Central America was the driver of the jet ski.
Mandyal is to return to court on January 8, 2015 and his bail has been extended until then.
