Police are yet to decide whether they will charge a 32-year-old mother of seven with motor manslaughter, after she knocked down a pensioner with her vehicle while reversing from the compound of a Chinese supermarket at St Margaret’s Junction, last Wednesday.
Relatives of Ramraj Ramrattan, 70, of Kalpoo Avenue, said the woman was rushing to take her child to the health centre after he got a cut in his hand and did not see Ramrattan in front the supermarket.
In a statement to police, the driver said Ramrattan was lying down on the ground at the front entrance of Daishesheng Supermarket around 7:50 am, when she reversed and came into contact with him. When pedestrians began shouting to her to stop, the woman put her car in forward gear and rolled over Ramrattan a second time.
Witnesses filmed the horrific accident as Ramrattan lay unconscious under the car. Eight men from the area later lifted the vehicle off of him. Ramrattan was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he died at 1:30 pm on Wednesday.
Speaking to the Guardian after his funeral service yesterday at the Mosquito Creek Shore of Peace, a close relative denied he was intoxicated when the accident occurred.
“They saying he was drunk and sleeping in front of the supermarket but it is 11 years now that he stopped drinking,” the relative said. She explained that Ramrattan’s wife, Dolly, died last year and since then, “He was a handyman and he was always on the road. Everyone knew him. He liked to stay alone but he never disrespected anyone.” Another relative said Ramrattan loved children and did not support corporal punishment.
Relatives said they were awaiting the conclusion of the police investigation so that the driver could be charged.
Cpl Bacchus of the St Margaret’s Police Station are investigating.