By PAVEL BAILEY
A MAN testified yesterday how he suffered injuries in 2020 when he was struck by a car when a woman hit him while aiming for her ex-boyfriend.
Jermonique Williams, of Lilac Street, is on trial for causing harm to Kevin Laing in a hit-and-run incident that occurred in their neighbourhood on August 9, 2020.
In court, Mr Laing described his account of that day’s events before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney.
He said he was at his boss’ house cleaning the company cars when he saw Williams and her ex-boyfriend, Norman, having an argument across the street that led to a scuffle in the middle of the road. After the fight, Williams sped off in her blue Honda Inspire only for her sister to come to the scene and slam into the back of Norman’s parked car in his driveway with her Passo. Mr Laing then explained that both he, Norman and Norman’s current girlfriend came to Williams’ sister’s side as she stumbled out of her car in a daze.
When prosecutor Inspector Timothy Bain asked Mr Laing for the sister’s name, Williams’ lawyer objected, but the magistrate sustained the question. However, Mr Laing said he could not recall the name.
Mr Laing said as all three of them were checking on Williams’ sister after the crash and to ask why she had hit the car, he suddenly heard a car revving up as Williams’ sister attempted to flee the subdivision on foot. Mr Laing only had time to shout “look out” to everyone when Williams allegedly came barreling towards them in her car and struck him on his left side.
The prosecutor asked if he recognised Williams in the car. Mr Laing said that he could see her clearly through the window and that they had known each other for two years.
He recalled that immediately after he was struck, Williams briefly stopped to say “sorry” to him before fleeing the scene. Mr Laing said he had to tell an officer who was also at the scene not to shoot at the fleeing car because he said she “was his neighbour”.
Mr Laing was taken from the scene in an ambulance after falling to his side and received treatment at the Princess Margaret Hospital where he was told that his left hand was broken in three places. He also suffered top and bottom back spasms in relation to the accident as well as having to sleep with a neck brace and not being able to lift anything over three ounces for over three years.
The medical statements for his treatment were presented in court and these items detailing his medical expenses were logged to be entered into evidence.
During cross-examination, Williams’ lawyer asked if her client had given him any assistance after he was struck by the car. Mr Laing denied this, claiming that while she stopped briefly to say she was sorry, she fled the scene immediately after and that it was only the two other passengers in the car who ever attempted to help him.
He also denied the lawyer’s allegation that he ran inside after the incident with the magistrate agreeing with him when he said he couldn’t have as he was lying on the road until the ambulance came.
However, when asked if he wasn’t the intended target, Mr Laing agreed with that statement, going on to say that Williams had been clearly aiming for her ex-boyfriend who was standing next to him, and that Norman was always the intended target.
The case was adjourned to February 17.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.