Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
THE TRIAL of a taxi driver charged in connection with the deaths of three young siblings in a motor vehicle accident two years ago has been set for November 21.
The accident occurred on the Prospect main road in St. Thomas on July 16, 2003.
Simroy Dixon, the 22-year-old taxi driver should have been tried in the Home Circuit Court this week. However, the trial was put off because of the absence of a prosecution witness.
Dixon was charged jointly with 22-year-old construction worker, Robert Clayton, nicknamed 'Blue', of Poinciana Crescent, Lyssons, St. Thomas. They were charged with three counts of manslaughter.
ON BAIL
Clayton pleaded guilty last year to the lesser offence of causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment.
Dixon was tried last year but the seven-member jury found him not guilty of manslaughter. Dixon is facing a retrial for causing death by dangerous driving because the jury could not arrive at a verdict in respect of the lesser offence. Dixon is on bail and is being represented by attorney-at-law Leroy Equiano.
Anna-Kay Roberts, 11, and her brothers, Carlton Carty, Jr., 8, and Devonte Carty, 7, were on their way to school when a car driven by Clayton slammed into them, killing them.
The Crown is alleging that Dixon was driving a car ahead of Clayton's car and both cars were travelling bumper-to-bumper at a speed of 130 to 140 kilometres per hour. It is further alleged that while the children were crossing the road, Dixon swerved to avoid hitting them, but Clayton's car hit them. Two of them died at the scene and the seven-year-old boy died in hospital.
Dixon will be calling Clayton as his defence witness.
