Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
44-YEAR-OLD VERNAL Johnson was freed of a charge of causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared in the St. Catherine Circuit Court, last Thursday.
The court was told that, on November 13, 2004, about 6:30 p.m., a motor car with several passengers on board , and driven by Phillip Brown, was going towards Sligoville, when upon reaching a section of the Sligoville main road near Waterloo district, a tractor, driven by Johnson, came out of a minor road and crashed into the the right side of the car.
The impact caused Brown to lose control of his vehicle, which overturned. Several passengers sustained injuries. However, 17-year-old Raul Gonzales, then a student at St. Jago High School, succumbed to his injuries. The case was submitted to the Coroner's, Court, which ruled that Brown and Johnson should stand trial for Gonzales' death.
UNANIMOUS VERDICT
Brown was freed last week Monday by the Crown, which said it had no evidence against him. Johnson's case was given to a jury, which deliberated for more than an hour.
It returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. The presiding judge, Justice Lloyd Hibbert, while telling Johnson that he was free to go, warned that he must be careful, as he said that his vehicle had mechanical problems. Both men were defended by attorney-at-law Carlton Callman.
