No prison time for Russian driver in fatal crash

A young man who lost his mother and stepfather in a December 2022 motor vehicle accident along the Palisadoes Road called for compassion for the Russian driver responsible for their deaths, recommending a fine instead of prison time.

Narmadeo Cornish, whose mother, Camille Grant, 53, and stepfather, Delroy Grant, 53, were among four people killed in the December 11 crash, told a probation officer during a phone interview that he did not wish to see Alexei Zaytsev imprisoned.

Cornish noted that the foreigner has a wife and two daughters and that he believed that a fine would be more appropriate.

On Tuesday, Zaytsev, 53, was fined a total of $2 million by the Home Circuit Court after pleading guilty to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Justice Leighton Pusey ordered the Russian national to pay $500,000 per count within seven days or face three months’ imprisonment.

The crash occurred along the Palisadoes strip when Zaytsev’s vehicle collided with a taxi transporting the Grants, 57-year-old Rose Roberts-Banton, and her 18-year-old son Zachery Heslop. All four perished in the collision.

Cornish, who had lived with his mother and stepfather in Seaview Gardens, St Andrew, described the profound emotional and financial toll the tragedy took on him.

Speaking with The Gleaner shortly after the crash, Cornish said, “Mi feel like a part of mi has died.”

The close-knit bond among the trio was widely known among family and friends, who affectionately called them 'Heckle', 'Jeckle', and 'Freckle'.

His aunt, Tracey-Ann Taylor, had told The Gleaner that Cornish continues to struggle with the loss.

“He tries to stay busy, but once he’s alone, him break down,” she said. “The pictures in his phone are mostly of the three of them. Everywhere they went, they went together.

“There are no words you can use to comfort him because I don't know what he is going through. Nothing like this has ever happened to me, but we just try to comfort him in the best way. Sometimes it's just a simple hug while he is crying to let him know that we are here and will always be there for him,” she had shared.

Police Sergeant Leion Banton, who lost his mother and younger brother in the crash, expressed his acceptance of the court’s ruling.

He told a probation officer that while the ordeal has deeply affected his family and delayed their healing, he respected the legal process.

He said there was nothing that could be done legally that would ease their pain but added that he was thankful for the continued support of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and various church groups that supported his family.

Banton also revealed that his family had retained legal representation to pursue civil action.

During sentencing, Zaytsev’s attorney, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, pleaded for leniency, highlighting that some family members of the deceased had not called for imprisonment. He also stated that civil proceedings were under way, and Zaytsev’s insurance company had shown a willingness to compensate the families.

Champagnie further noted that his client had no prior convictions and had demonstrated “genuine remorse” for the lives lost.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com