Reckless driver who killed friend fined $450k

A St Catherine motorist who pleaded guilty to causing the death of his friend in a motor vehicle crash in 2021 has been fined $450,000 or 12 months in prison.

A St Catherine motorist will only have to spend 12 months in prison or pay a fine of $450,000 after his reckless driving led to the death of his friend in 2021.

His driver's licence has been suspended for one year.

The sentence was handed down on Monday in the St Catherine Circuit Court.

Labourer Akiel Gordon, 26, pleaded guilty before Justice Dale Palmer on June 13, to the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

Gordon is from Portmore. The deceased has been identified as Tyrese Barrington, a 21-year-old labourer.

The court was told that on June 12, 2021, Gordon was driving a Toyota Axio motor car along Municipal Boulevard in Portmore, with Barrington travelling as a passenger. While travelling along the roadway, Gordon overtook a line of traffic and collided with another vehicle.

The impact resulted in severe injuries to Barrington and other occupants involved in the crash. The injured parties were taken to the Spanish Town Hospital, where Barrington later succumbed to the injuries he sustained.

An investigation conducted by the St Catherine South Police Division subsequently led to Gordon being charged in relation to Barrington's death.

Gordon was represented in court by attorney-at-law Denise Hinson.

- Rasbert Turner

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