Horsford and Cooper
Police Officer Tulip Horsford and her daughter La-Shanti Cooper appeared in the St. John’s Magistrates’ Court this morning on charges related to the highly publicized accident where Keane Gregoire of Nut Grove lost his life.
The charges stem from an accident that occurred on May 18 on All Saints Road in the vicinity of John I Race track.
At around 2 am that day, Cooper was reportedly driving her mother’s car with Gregoire, 18, in the passenger seat.
The 19-year-old was said to be driving at such a high speed that she lost control of the vehicle which was reportedly traveling from east to west on the said road.
The vehicle reportedly slammed into a concrete column which then launched it in the opposite direction.
Gregoire obtained severe head injuries and which he did not recover from despite efforts from hospital doctors.
This incident was the talk of social media with reports surfacing that Cooper told the police that she was not the driver and that the driver fled the scene.
Nevertheless, Cooper is now facing five serious charges, for driving without a driver’s license, driving without a licensed driver present, driving without L plates, driving without insurance coverage, and causing the death of Gregoire by driving dangerously.
Her mother is only charged for allowing her to drive without the necessary insurance and was granted station bail.
Cooper was given bail by Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh in the sum of $100,000 with a cash component of $20,000.
It is said, however, that she was not able to meet the bond and is therefore behind bars until their next court hearing on August 10.
I know if it was my child, the police prosecutors will fight hard to make sure my child doesn’t get bail. When someone lost their life because of negligence, no friends and company or colleagues in this. Treat everyone equally by the law. Magistrate love to say that they can’t grant bail especially when death is involved. They love to say seek the high court for bail.
In respect to traffic matters where death occurs the magistrate is allowed to grant bail as it does not fall under what is considered a capital offense.