6 year-old Ashanti Pollard who was knocked down and killed on Sunday night. She and her mother, Dawn Swasey were only a short distance away from their Faber's Road Extension home when they were hit from behind by a speeding car. Well, the man who was driving the car has been arrested and charged for her death - and he is in jail tonight. It turns out, he didn't even have a valid driver's license.
He's 43 year-old Albert Martinez, a resident of the Western Pines Community, at mile 8 on the George Price Highway. He was arraigned this morning before the Chief Magistrate on charges of manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention, driving a motor vehicle whilst not being the holder of a valid driver's license, driving an unlicensed motor vehicle, and displaying unauthorized license plates.
The first 3 of these are indictable offenses, so no plea was taken. For the other 3 charges, he pleaded not guilty. The Chief Magistrate also had to consider whether or not to grant him bail. He owes the court for traffic offenses, which is an aggravating factor against him, and so when he was taken back before the Chief Magistrate in the afternoon, she made her decision on bail.
After consideration, she granted him bail of $20,000, two thousand of which he had to produce in cash. He was unable to meet bail, and so, he was taken to the Belize Central Prison, where he will remain until he is able to meet bail. He must return to court on June 15.
The family says that they have spoken to him since the accident, and he has expressed remorse for the death of Baby Ashanti Pollard.
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