BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
THE man charged for causing death to five people at the Tenaru bridge in July this year is facing manslaughter.
Yesterday the Public Prosecution substituted the charges of causing death to five people by reckless and careless driving to that of manslaughter.
Having the initial charges substituted to manslaughter charges the defence is seeking time so that they obtain further instruction from the defendant for a plea on next occasion.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to October 25 for possible plea to be entered.
This is the case of Danny Benson who was arrested and charged in relation to the fatal road accident at the Tenaru Bridge East of Honiara on July 7, 2021 that took the lives of five people.
Police said the man was carelessly driving the vehicle from the Burns Creek area and his way up to Tenaru Bridge, the driver of the land cruiser saw an incoming vehicle on the Bridge and a parked vehicle at the western end of the Bridge, so the driver of the land cruiser decided to drive through the old Tenaru Bridge where a fundraising was happening.
The vehicle drove straight towards the crowd, hit several people and later stopped. The driver of the land cruiser escaped after the accident but was later arrested. It has been confirmed that the suspect was drunk. Some unknown person later burnt down the land cruiser into ashes.
Emy Rusi of the Public Solicitor’s Office appeared in court on behalf of her colleague Henry Kausimae who represents the accused yesterday.
