A TAXI DRIVER from central Trinidad was released from prison after pleading guilty to knocking down and killing another taxi driver in 2011.
Kenrick Eldon Noel, also called Goat, 41, pleaded guilty on Monday to gross negligence manslaughter in the death of Terrence Waldron on January 14, 2011.
Because he has spent almost 12 years in prison while waiting for the case to go to trial – and after a one-third discount on his prison sentence was applied for him pleading guilty, Justice Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds said he would have been incarcerated for a longer period of time than the 12-year sentence she was imposing.
He was put on a bond for three years in keeping with the terms of the plea deal arrived with the State, and has had his driver’s permit suspended for a year.
It was the State’s case that Noel and Waldron had an argument at the Chaguanas taxi-stand in Port of Spain on Broadway.
Waldron wanted Noel to “roll down” to avoid being ticketed by the police. Noel did not and was slapped in the face with a wad of money. They exchanged words. The friction between the men moved to Chaguanas later that night.
While at Busy Corner, Chaguanas, Waldron approached Noel’s car with a piece of iron. In his statement to police, Noel said he“rocked the wheel” to drive to the police station, when Waldron collided with his car.
“It was really an accident,” Noel said.
In a statement to Waldron’s daughter, which he read from prison, Noel maintained it was an accident and apologised for his action. He said the incident changed his life and he now intends to work with others to help reduce crime.
Waldron’s daughter also addressed the court in a victim impact statement she read out at the virtual hearing.
She said she was six when her father was killed. At the time, her parents were separated and she went to live with a grandmother. She said she had hoped he would walk with her on her last day of secondary school or take her to university when she begins in September.
“I miss him,” she said.
In accepting the plea deal and conditions of a bond and suspended permit, the judge said it was shown the car had a defective braking system and although Noel drove away, he stopped and did go to the police station.
Noel was represented by attorney Michelle Ali while Ravita Persad-Maharaj prosecuted.
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