An interior decorator who was charged with causing the death of a man along the Lilliput main road in St James was granted bail when he appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Marcel Anderson, 26, of Falmouth, Trelawny, was charged with vehicular manslaughter stemming from the February 17 accident, which claimed the life of Daniel Harvey, who was assisting in weeding bush along the roadway. Another man was also injured during the incident.

Ill-fated accident

During an application for bail, defence attorney Earnest Smith said contrary to reports that speeding might have caused the ill-fated accident, it was another driver who was trying to overtake when he hit Anderson's car, causing it to hit the embankment. Smith told Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry that Anderson's vehicle overturned, hitting the man. He said his client assisted in getting the man to hospital before making a report to the police.

Anderson was offered $500,000 bail under condition that he reports to the Falmouth Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. RM Henry also ordered that the investigating officer, who was absent, collect the relevant statements necessary to answer the question as to what was the real cause of the accident.

Speeding

Based on a witness' statement, it is alleged that on February 17 Harvey and other persons were carrying out beautification works along the Lilliput main road when a car driven by the accused was seen speeding on the embankment in the direction of Harvey. The car drove on to the roadway after hitting Harvey and another man. The injured men were rushed to the MoBay Hope hospital and Harvey was later transferred to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The court is awaiting a post mortem, a scene of crime report, the investigating officer's and witness' statements. The case is scheduled for mention on March 27.