Drunk drivers slammed after two cyclists killed

[f2wohf]

So a cyclist life is only worth 5 years?

That’s exclusive of the Spandex which is a separate offense in its own right.

 

[TedLasso]

As a cyclist, I would never cycle on a M or N road. It is ILLEGAL AFAIK. For these chaps (I know someone who is a member of this bike club where the fatalities occurred), they no longer cycle certain portions of the m4 (now prohibited) , but they ride on the m4 to get to wherever zimbali is.

So they still taking risks

 

[Emjay]

As a cyclist, I would never cycle on a M or N road. It is ILLEGAL AFAIK. For these chaps (I know someone who is a member of this bike club where the fatalities occurred), they no longer cycle certain portions of the m4 (now prohibited) , but they ride on the m4 to get to wherever zimbali is.

So they still taking risks

Yes. This was discussed earlier in the thread.

 

[crackersa]

As a cyclist, I would never cycle on a M or N road. It is ILLEGAL AFAIK. For these chaps (I know someone who is a member of this bike club where the fatalities occurred), they no longer cycle certain portions of the m4 (now prohibited) , but they ride on the m4 to get to wherever zimbali is.

So they still taking risks

Zimbali is just before Balito

 

[spiff]

I see cyclists regularly on the N7 just past the morning star airfield turn off on a Saturday morning!

 

[Emjay]

A precedence has been set with this judgement and sentencing. Glad that Richard and Jaryd have some justice. Not sure how I feel about 5 years for each death, but it is a step in the right direction.

 

[nightjar]

Only those that ride illegally on a highway.

Goes back to the OP where 38 individuals, whose correct names and addresses are, or should be, known to the law enforcement authorities contributed materially to the deaths of two cyclists.

The major offender will, quite rightly, go to jail but the 38 co-offenders will ride away scotfree to repeat their offence and nothing will be done because the authorities are too ignorant or idle or illiterate to open separate dockets, all of which should result in convictions.

 

[schumi]

. Durban motorist who killed 2 cyclists seeks bail, pending appeal

Omesh Ramnarain, the motorist who was sentenced to 10 years in jail for crashing into and killing two cyclists, wants to be released on bail, pending an appeal against his sentence and conviction on two counts of culpable homicide.

He was sentenced on May 25 and, while granting him permission to appeal, Durban Regional Court Magistrate Anand Maharaj ordered that he begin serving his sentence immediately.

The accident occurred on the M4 leading out of Durban in February 2016.

The cyclists, Richard da Silva and Jarred Dwyer, were at the back of a pack of cyclists who were on an early morning ride up the north coast.

While there were allegations that Ramnarain, who was returning from a night club, had been driving at speed and had been drunk, this was not proved, and Maharaj convicted him on his own version that he had just not seen the cyclists.

More at : https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...2-cyclists-seeks-bail-pending-appeal-20180604

 

[supersunbird]

nd Maharaj convicted him on his own version that he had just not seen the cyclists.

Good. We don't need blind morons on the road.

 

[Slootvreter]

Good. We don't need blind morons on the road.

Or cyclists where they don't belong.

 

[schumi]

Durban driver who killed M4 cyclists released on bail

Durban motorist Omesh Ramnarain‚ who was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for crashing into and killing two cyclists - was freed from prison on Monday.

This after a judge ruled that the trial magistrate‚ who denied him bail pending appeal‚ had acted “emotionally” and contrary to law.

Ramnarain had to pay R30‚000 bail - and he has been ordered to hand in his drivers licence to the investigating officer.

He was convicted of two counts of culpable homicide relating to the deaths of cyclists Richard da Silva and Jarred Dwyer‚ on the M4 leading out of the city in February 2016.

The two were on an early morning ride and were at the back of a group of cyclists heading up the north coast.

Ramnarain had been at a club but said he had only drunk four beers. A test was taken outside of the legislated two-hour window period and was not admitted into evidence during his trial.

He pleaded not guilty‚ saying he had not seen the cyclists at all. There were suggestions during his trial that a rock might have been thrown at his windscreen just before he collided with them. This is a point he intends raising on appeal.

More at : https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/so...river-who-killed-m4-cyclists-released-on-bail

 

[Cray]

https://www.iol.co.za/ios/news/twist-in-m4cyclists-appeal-case-bid-15646271

Twist in #M4Cyclists appeal case bid

The Ramnarains announced publicly this week they would offer a reward of R10000 for information that would give them answers as to what happened on February 7, 2016 when Ramnarain crashed into Richard da Silva and Jared Dwyer, killing both cyclists.

O.J. ?

 

[pinball wizard]

Gopi said if anyone had information on the case, to call 0836871237

I love it when private citizens put their phone numbers on the interwebs.

 

[schumi]

Judge slams botched investigation into deaths of two cyclists hit by car

The police investigation into a crash which resulted in the deaths of two cyclists on the M4 near Durban in 2016 - and the subsequent prosecution of motorist Omesh Ramnarain - had been so badly handled it was "mind boggling".
This was the comment of judge Kate Pillay during argument in the Durban high court on Friday in an appeal by Ramnarain against his conviction on two counts of culpable homicide and a sentence of 10 years' imprisonment.
"This is a very sad case. Two innocent people lost their lives and yet there was no expert accident reconstruction evidence … and his blood alcohol level was not tested in the required time.
"It was handled with complete incompetence," the judge said.
Cyclists Richard da Silva and Jarred Dwyer were at the back of a pack on an early morning ride up the KwaZulu-Natal north coast when Ramnarain, who was returning from a nightclub, smashed into them.
While witnesses said he smelt of alcohol, the blood test was taken outside of the legislated two-hour window period and was not admitted into evidence during his trial.
He claimed to have had four drinks during the evening and said he did not see the cyclists at all. His windscreen "smashed" and he swerved to the left before hearing two bangs.
It was only some days after the accident that he discovered a rock in the well of the passenger seat in his car.
Because of poor evidence of witnesses at his trial in the Durban Regional Court, magistrate Anand Maharaj convicted him on his own version, but rejected any suggestion that a rock had been thrown at his vehicle just before he crashed into the cyclists.
In argument before judge Pillay, his advocate, Murray Pitman, said the magistrate had been wrong to do so - particularly because police had taken a photograph of it at the scene and then attempted to "keep it out of evidence".
The judge raised concerns about the speed Ramnarain had been travelling but Pitman said there was no evidence - and nor had the magistrate found that he had been speeding.

More at:

Judge slams botched investigation into deaths of two cyclists hit by car

The police investigation into a crash which resulted in the deaths of two cyclists on the M4 near Durban in 2016 - and the subsequent prosecution of motorist Omesh Ramnarain - had been so badly handled it was “mind boggling”.

www.timeslive.co.za

 

[D tj]

Only came across this thread now. It must be really difficult to ride into cyclists whilst drunk, what which them riding single file next to the verge, such a small target and all.
.
.
.
suppose I'm now a spandex's target??

 

[WorldWarIII]

drunk driving is one thing....but being a cyclist... which is worse?

 

[Emjay]

drunk driving is one thing....but being a cyclist... which is worse?

A criminal vs a fit irritant on the roads.

Very hard decision.

 

[wbot]

drunk driving is one thing....but being a cyclist... which is worse?

I'm a cyclist and my dad was killed in a head on collision with a drunk driver. Guess which one I think is worse.................

 

[nightjar]

Only came across this thread now. It must be really difficult to ride into cyclists whilst drunk, what which them riding single file next to the verge, such a small target and all.

Not forgetting that the cyclists were riding illegally on a freeway and contributed to their own deaths.
Needless to say, no cyclists were prosecuted for their part in the deaths.

 

[spiff]

Not forgetting that the cyclists were riding illegally on a freeway and contributed to their own deaths.
Needless to say, no cyclists were prosecuted for their part in the deaths.

Way too many cyclists on the N7 these days.
No sympathy when they get killed