A Gulf national, who allegedly ran over and killed a pedestrian while leaving the Autumn Fair, is on trial at the High Criminal Court for vehicular manslaughter.
The driver stands accused of striking victim Hasan Saleh Al Saati with his car, trapping him under the vehicle, and continuing to drive for a short distance before stopping.
The 35-year-old motorist denied charges of causing a death due to reckless driving and disregarding road traffic signs, and posing a threat to pedestrians.
On January 31, the late Mr Al Saati, 56, was taken to the Bahrain Defence Forces (BDF) Hospital, where he died in the intensive care unit (ICU) following a collapsed lung.
The victim, who was highly regarded in his community, suffered multiple fractures to his ribs, legs, spine, pelvis and sternum. In the autopsy report, his cause of death was marked as pneumothorax (collapsed lung) leading to cardiac arrest.
The Public Prosecution asked judges to impose the maximum penalty in the case – to rule against the defendant ‘with no mercy, which he is not deserving of’.
“The defendant was driving near the Autumn Fair, a crowded area where people regularly cross the road, and he did not account for that,” declared the statement. “Is this gross negligence and unjustifiable carelessness, the reason why a guiltless life was ended?
“This is no regular traffic accident, but a crime complete with factors like recklessness and disregard for laws and human lives.
“Criminal intent is not required for a defendant to be guilty, just that appropriate care was not exercised.”
The suspect’s lawyer attempted to shift the blame entirely on the late Mr Al Saati, stating that the driver was caught by surprise when the Bahraini appeared before him.
“The victim was crossing the road in an area not designated for pedestrians,” attorney Bander Al Doseri claimed in his defence memo. “He was so close to my client’s car that he couldn’t stop the vehicle in time.
“The defendant’s mistake here is trivial in comparison to the victim’s severe error – his actions are what caused the incident to occur, as it was impossible for my client to expect his sudden crossing and act accordingly.”
The motorist earlier claimed the was driving at 60kmph. The incident occurred on the Gulf of Bahrain Road, which links Zallaq to Belaj Al Jazaer, going through Sakhir. Although medics tried to save the pedestrian, the late Mr Saati died in the early morning hours of February 1. He was buried in Muharraq Cemetery and many mourners attended his funeral. He was survived by three sons.
The Autumn Fair is an annual shopping festival where hundreds of vendors from around the world come together to offer a diverse range of products including fashion, beauty, home décor, electronics, toys, textiles and food. More than 200,000 visitors attended its 36th edition during its 10-day run from January 24 to February 2.
Judges set March 31 as the date a verdict will be issued in the case.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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