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Conviction No.198
Published on: 2/4/2010.
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT.
That is the number of traffic convictions route taxi driver Cyril O'Bryan Archer now has after he threw in the towel in the No. 2 Supreme Court yesterday and confessed to dangerous driving.
On Tuesday, Archer, 47, of Kendall Hill, Christ Church, was arraigned with causing Errol Thornhill's death by driving route taxi ZR 42 on Martindales Road, St Michael, at a speed and in a manner dangerous to the public on February 8, 1999.
He pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to go on trial yesterday.
However, before any evidence could be led, Archer had a change of heart and pleaded guilty to the lesser count of dangerous driving.
He was represented by Dr Lenda Blackman, while Principal Crown Counsel Anthony Blackman prosecuted.
Justice Margaret Reifer instructed the nine-member mixed jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty to death by dangerous driving and guilty to dangerous driving.
Archer had 197 previous convictions, including 50 for carrying excess passengers; 33 for being off route; 20 for failing to display his badge; 13 for carrying more than one person beside him; 11 for stopping at a place other than a bus stop and nine for playing loud music and picking up passengers at a place other than a bus stop.
He also had traffic convictions for not keeping his door closed, failing to comply with traffic signs and lawmen in uniform, as well as causing obstructions, failing to draw to the left at the sound of a siren and reversing for longer than was necessary.
His counsel Blackman asked for a pre-sentencing report, which was granted by Justice Reifer.
Archer returns to court on March 10 for sentencing.
Prosecutor Blackman said Archer was driving ZR 42 along Martindales Road, on his way to Silver Hill, Christ Church, while Thornhill was riding a bicycle having just left his house at Bannister Land, St Michael.
Thornhill was waiting at the junction of Campaign Land and Martindales Road for a safe opportunity to enter Martindales Road. Traffic was moderate to heavy.
A motorist stopped for him and Thornhill rode out.
At that same time Archer, driving at a fast rate of speed, overtook the traffic ahead of him and collided with Thornhill, knocking him off the bicycle.
Thornhill ended up with his head on the sidewalk and his body in the road.
Archer, meanwhile, jumped out of his route taxi and into another vehicle and disappeared from the scene.
65 comment found!
All ain't the same!!! : 2/13/2010
Yes I was a conductor on a minibus and yes sometimes we got a full load which led to overloading if we were lucky to get the passengers to do it, this would happen maybe a sunday morning on one or two trips when certain vans off the road and the good citizens wanted to get to church or down town we were always there, no one wanted to ride the bus cause they thought it was old and the owner and driver old fashioned we ain't had no big stereo my van had a radio and a tape deck, the speakers sounded like they had a cold and de driver does drive too slow according to some adults and school children... But thank God for that cause I never got report had to go to court, we picked up what passengers we got during the day and made our way home by 6:30-7:00pm, at the end of the week we had a small paycheck but was happy to get it, we were enable to buy food and drink from the bag during the day so we did not have to bother about the extra hustle to make extra cash...UNLIKE other vans out there, Cause owners had a limit of money he wanted at the end of the day,.. you see people wunna talk wunna talk here now that this happen but it is just one of the many that has happened and are waiting to happen out there.. In this line of work back then if wunna don't know, a conductor got ten cents in the dollar and the driver got twenty cents, to make a weeks salary that ya could live on ya had to take the overload and yes some even overloaded the overload by packing people on top of each other, that in one instance a police was shocked to see how much people got out the bus and it was still full,he told the conductor if he got all the people back on the bus and the door shut he could go without the report and this he did then them two drove off and leaving the officer in shock, if ya hear how he brag when he got in the vanstand and laugh at the officer, well a deal is a deal.. in another incident the driver had 75 excess school children on the bus, with the required 31 left on the bus, there stood PC Shorey not knowing what to do first he cant arrest anyone one cause it is not an arrestable offence, the magistrate would no way believe that a driver could put 103 passengers on a minibus, but he reported him anyway all he got was a fine from the magistrate, first of all the police work hard to keep these villans in line and yes when it get to court it either gets trown out for what ever reason or they got a fine, they return to work the same day and do it all over again. Here is the hustle out there as a ZR or minibus worker, 1.make enough money to keep the owner satisfied like 5 and 6 hundred passengers a day the least, now ya don't get that by driving 31 passengers up and down cause some trips are light so when the excess come ya take them.. 2:make extra money to divide between conductor and the driver(this the owner don't know bout) and buy what ever them want also save some to pay the fines cause ya dont see the owners in court after their high demand for more money cause the bulls***t to happen in the first place. Some law officials and owners either from the same neighborhood or in the same lodge, so a pardon is given like in this case with Archer... I say no more cause the nation wont publish it... ..Yes some conductors and drivers are disrespectful but not all so dont let the bad apples spoil the good ones take them out from the basket and trow dem way and let the good ones shine.. Have a good day!
: 2/11/2010
Why a driver with 197 conviction was allow to still operate a motor vehicle that cause a life. that's wrong, and the judicial system need to do something about drivers.
conviction #198 : 2/10/2010
What is going with the judicial system in Barbados? that ZR driver should not be allowed to drive not even a pancart{wheelbarrow} it is totally ridiculous the nonsense these louts are allowed to get away with ,they have no respect for law and order ,every last one of them should be locked up for ever
The law of the jungle/highway : 2/10/2010
And we keep wondering why these things happen.We have an abundance of Law Makers at one end, and an amply supply of Law Breakers at the other end. Somewhere in the middle ground we are missing something . Just a few hours ago ,while on the ABC Highway,a car ahead of me was driving very slowly for a while,when I overtook it at the roundabout, it had some 3 TV/DVD screens on display including one in front of the driver. And to add to the circus on our roads, shortly after, a motor cycle came up the dual-carriageway between two lines of traffic , on one wheel.
I agree 100% mandissa : 2/10/2010
Yes mandissa , yes ! You have said a whole lot that is true .If the people would refuse to get on the buses that the drivers and conductors have no respect for life the owners would do something about it because they would be loosing money .Too long now this foolishness was going on .Look now someone calling them selves conductor could say he saw what happened that day .I hope that is just a name and not a actual PSV conductor because as Mandissa said they do a whole lot of s*** on the buses .They curse the passengers ,the other drivers on the road ,even the police. The magistrates encouraging them to do nonsense because they go before them time and time again for identical offences .They waste the police time .Why stop these men and charge them and when it get to court they get a pat on the shoulder? This seem to say carry on boys you are doing good !They should be without a licence for a long time .They would not get to kill anyone with a mini bus or any motor vehicle . You see we let people get away in this country with alot .We only quarrel for nine days and then it is business as usual .Refuse to get on these buses , walk the extra to your house with your groceries or call someone to help you .Hit the owners who ever they are where it hurts .IN THE POCKETS . People walked in America because they refused to get in the segregated buses .You too can walk and catch the Transport board bus because of the wreckless and sensless driving . It is your money you are spending .Are you paying them to kill you ,your family and friends too ?
Regulation ? : 2/10/2010
After a visit to Barbados last year and getting on a ZR. I am convinced that there is no laws or regulation for these drivers. It was horrific!!They break the speed limit, overtake with all recklessness, stop where they want to if they want to,cuss you out, put you out when they want and don't even mention the loud music and vulgarity. It is horrible. So I am not suprise that someone with that many convictions was driving and caused someone's life. My heart goes out to the family.
Right On! Mandissa... : 2/9/2010
...tell them the truth! Nobody gives a damn about poor people. They're expendable!
You can run them over, maim them, kill them, disrespect them, over charge them, neglect them, see them, don't see them, don't listen to them, rob them, unfair them, discriminate against them, fool them, jail them, starve them. Any thing your little ole heart desires! That's just how it is!
Madness must stop . : 2/9/2010
My hope is that this man would not have died for nothing .Ist say this because we continue to give accolades to these criminals . When you start wrong you will end wrong .When too many people are shouting no one hears anything among the noise .First thing for too long drivers of these PSV's has been creating havoc on the roads .Only the poor seem to suffer from these accidents . These pea brain drivers and conductors too are left to continue their tirade on the streets of our nation .Persons spoke out about their loud music and vulgar lyrics and those who stood to profit on all fronts from that ran to their defense.The music was not the issue they said and the blame went to the parents, the schools which they thought was using archaic methods to teach young students . When confronted about their wreckless driving these same people along with several of their passengers were on their side .Why the police do not look for the real criminals (all along some are in their midst and driving and conducting ).Why the police do not look for the big boys they said .All this and more .These people are untouchable especially when certain persons own the buses too .Therefore we are all to blame .The commuters ,the owners, the drivers ,conductors and the judicary for letting them drive with more than five convictions for all these offenses .If some people will say no and refuse to ride on these buses a stronger message could not be sent .Stronger than by any police or judge .We encourage them because they drop you to your doors ,near your gap ,let you ride free, put off the children near the schools and all that . I never hear of a plane dropping off passengers in St.Michael so they would not have to go up by GIA and come back down . The cheapest my friends become the dearest .Then we want justice fast , only when the shoe is on our foot.That conductor had the gall to write I hope you are a conductor on a ferry .Alot of you do nonsense all the time on the roads .You get and cuss the passengers when they request a stop . You and your brain dead friends the drivers want to keep ahead of the competition that is usually close behind .You pack the stupid passengers in like sardines cussing and shouting all the way for them to make themselves small .Stupid i say because you should never be in a hurry for someone to kill you .It is better to arrive alive . I have witnessed on one occasion one of these c*** doctors jump out a moving psv in front of me , press the lights to request a stop (as if he was a pedestrian crossing )and jump back in and continued moving .This was so the driver who was one behind me could not get closer . This is what we have to put up with .When we speak out we are called informers , cussed and told about why we do not look for the white , the big boys and everyone else except them .Wrong is wrong . You let little deeds go un punished and they end up to over 100 convictions including murder .
Jail the judges : 2/9/2010
I would not convict this perk. I would return to the court cases where all these convictions were made and I would convict all the attorneys and judges in his case. they must serve no less than 5 years for him returning on our roads to jack up 198!!! What are we? Crazy? How is this possible? Who are these judges? Were are they? Why haven't their names not been listed? Were is the public scorn and shame? Why weren't the judges not charged for the murder Thornhill. Seems to me it was pre-meditated on the part of the judges who all sat time and tiem again and gave this murderer a slap on his wrist. How much you wnat to bet that for the murder of this innocent man, he will get another slap on the wrist. Stay tune for conviction # 199. You go Archer. You are the man.
CONVICTION # 198 DD 2/04/10 : 2/8/2010
Lift the vail and you will find many more ZR van drivers and Route Taxi Operators with as bad as or even a worse driving record than this bloke; yet with a slap on the wrist, they are allowed to continue business as usual, without any consequence. It is obvious that this contempt for the law and blatent disregard for other people's safety, will continue until the courts seriously deal with the situation by imprisoning these perpetrators and baning them from operating any PSV for life.
Man from Town : 2/8/2010
Talk ya talk ,
Conviction #198 : 2/8/2010
Who is looking out for the rights of innocent Barbadians??
Could some one from our Government tell me??
I am waiting to hear .
: 2/8/2010
If you think about this,is that this man can actually enter the guinesse book of records.
: 2/7/2010
Is this guy an anarchist or just plain stupid?How about a lifetime ban.
Conviction No.198 : 2/7/2010
I can only assume that this fool, had or have a relative (s) in the judicial system, (police officer, judge, or some other prominent association that allowed this kind of excessive behavior to continue over and over with this many traffic violations. He is a useless monster and should be treated as such, instead he was allowed to plea to a lesser charge and many years after this senseless tragedy. Which brings me back to what I stated earlier above, "He was well protected" by some one or many with authority. What a disgusting shame to read this article. Also you bajans should have refused to ride in his vans after this happened, from what I have read it seems as though he will get off with a slap on the wrist and will be back in his ZR or what ever the hell he owns to kill again, remember it could be you or a relative the next time. Show your support, and disgust by not riding in his vans. I live in NY and I refused to take this kind of transportation, because of this same behavior, (not to this extent) but none the less, because of the disrespect, for other motorist, and pedestrians alike. I will freeze in the cold first, before I take, a gypsy cab, or a dollar van here in New York. It's a shame he is not here in New York, he will have been dealt with accordingly.
To: Thornhill family. "The good book states "Vengeance is mine the Lord says"
Magistrates, Judges and Lawyers... : 2/7/2010
...found responsible for allowing this abominable state of jurisprudence to exist and thrive in Barbados must be held accountable and possibly dis-barred.
Case in point: An individual with 198 criminal/traffic convictions (recorded) who finally kills an innocent person must not be allowed to "cop a plea" to a lesser charge.
This is making a travesty of justice and the law, whatever the prevailing circumstances.
NEED CLARIFICATION : 2/7/2010
Isn't the Judiciary Branch (Court) suppose to be independent from the Executive Branch (Government)? If that is the case, how can the Government be held liable for something the Courts did, or didn't do, as may be the case here?
Shame shame shame : 2/7/2010
I"a visiting senior citizen" was put out of a ZR bus on my way to Christ church late evening when I was the only passenger left. The only explanation given was. "We ent going so far". I hope that that some drastic measures be done promptly to save the public from more disasters.
WELL PUT : 2/5/2010
mR/MRS ONE WONDERS - well put, the victim's family has a strong case for civil action against the gov't here. How is it that this ZR driver was allowed to still be on the road after soooo many convictions - i understand most of them were not "road related", but ZR/minibus related. But it shows balatant disregard for the fines etc.
if he was either sent to dodds for a week OR his license was revoked for 6 mths; he would have not been driving so reckless as to cause this accident. AND i understand plea bargains happen everyday - but if the prosecution has a strong case - convict on the proper charge - he balntantly overtook a blind spot b/c he couldn't wait and at such speed and force to decapitate the victim.
nothing less than strong prison time will suffice.
-Bajan Canadian(orig)
: 2/5/2010
There exists a stupid slave/colonial mentality in the Public Service and that is why things take so long to get done. Nobody wants to take responsibility FOR ANYTHING and things get shifted and shafted because they dont always know who is in charge of what. Together with the archaic thinking and old stupid rules, that need up dating, eveything gets bogged down. PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM IS TOO SLOW. Some people like it so though !
One Wonders.... : 2/5/2010
One wonders what pressures could be brought to bear on a Principal Crown Counsel to accept the lesser count from a man with such a track record knowing that any jury on the planet would have convicted Mr 198 for causing death by dangerous driving (given testimony like that of Mr Conductor)?
One wonders what has become of the demerit system which should have stopped Mr 198 from driving loooong ago.
One wonders how many other Mr 198s there are on the roads of Barbados and which reporter in Barbados will have the guts to really investigate and expose the system for harbouring these criminals.
One wonders when the few honest ZR owners/operators will expose the bad apples among them.
One wonders why the law allows for Mr 198 with so many convictions to have a driver’s license in the first place.
One wonders why an insurance company would cover a vehicle knowing the ZR owner employs a driver like Mr 198 with so many convictions.
One wonders how frustrating it must be for the police to be stopping a Mr198 so many times and getting so many convictions … but the law courts just set him free!
One wonders when there will be victim’s compensation imposed by the court to make Mr 198 work (not driving) to compensate the victims family… not that this will ever bring back their loved one.
: 2/4/2010
Well something else had to stop him, cause it seemed like the court failed after 198 convictions. And look where it occured on Martindale's Road, that same road where our hospital is located. Is there not a speed control limit (given both the hospital and school) and noise control restriction (given the hospital)? By the way if this is this the route for ZR vehicles, pass the hospital, it is not such a good idea at all.
Retired.
To Conductor : 2/4/2010
With that full witness accout, I wonder if tou went to court to give evidence to help make this case murder. If not I say SHUT UP. What help is this to the dead man? You are just like the same system that is letting him off with a slap on wrist.
Law and disorder : 2/4/2010
Jake ,I agree with you entirely.The Government of this country is ultimately responsible.
compare : 2/4/2010
Yesterdays Nation featured a 16yr old BOY who was imprisoned for wandering(not a criminal act)but someone who flouts the law gets to bargain.I am not an advocate of violence but when the system fails you ,and so badly.sometimes it makes you wonder about playing by the rules and if the EYE FOR AN EYE THEORY SHOULD BE OUR REALTY. The deed is done no amount of public outrage will change the outcome that for me is even worst.I challenge the jounalists to do effective reporting tell us if he is indeed employed by TRANSPORT BOARD and what is his track record .Is he one of the ZR Transport drivers that stop in the middle of the roundabouts.
Barbadian student : 2/4/2010
Look only in bim these damn things does happen, u mean to tell me they couldn't take him off the road before, come on the man had 198 convictions, u mean to tell me the justice system seeing that the man is a wutless driver couldn't take his lincense away before he ended up killing this person.
198 Convictions : 2/4/2010
On behalf of Thornhill family, thanks to all of you who have expressed your horror in this case. For my family though this concludes a long and painful journey not only for my mother but for all my other siblings. We miss Papa, and no penalty would bring him back, however there is a serious problem with our justice system. How can one with so many convictions be allowed to take people's lives in his hands on a daily basis? Are you telling me that because his family is well off he does not have a conscience? Is this how you get through in Barbados these days? His brother also allegedly did the same thing. Where is he today? How many more driver's have a similar number of convictions who are driving today, Mr Commissioner? Mr Attorney General, my father's life meant something, no matter how poor we are he life was of great value, please do not let his MURDER be in vain. Throw the book and the entire library as a matter of fact at this criminal.
"Structure" Thornhill
MORAL OUTRAGE INADEQUATE : 2/4/2010
Moral outrage is not enough
Moral outrage at the injustice of a man with 198 moving violations being allowed to hold a driver’s license to drive a public transport vehicle until he decapitates a cyclist while recklessly overtaking other traffic is not enough. One must ask what Barbados can do to improve the quality of driving on its over-crowded, winding, narrow roads. Here are some suggestions:
1. Institute a points system for driving violations that automatically disqualify a license holder from driving for specified periods of time when certain totals of points are accumulated within prescribed periods.
2. Discourage policemen from helping one another get rid of friends’ and family members’ driving tickets. Make it so that policemen, including senior officers, suffer in their pocket-books and through missed promotions for continuing this counterproductive cultural practice.
3. Setup a traffic school on Saturdays where first or infrequent offenders can be put through remedial driving classes to teach them about proper roads use. Offenders must pay to attend this school but can avoid points on their licenses if they are eligible and opt for this alternative. Fining people without teaching them how to use the road more safely and correctly will not change driving behavior in the island.
4. Post speed limit signs in more places such as near schools and in residential districts. There is no speed limit sign anywhere on Wanstead Drive where minibuses routinely exceed 60 mile per hour. The signs near the West Terrace primary school merely say School Zone without specifying the speed that must not be exceeded.
5. Require Driving School teachers to be registered and licensed after passing required tests to prove they know good driving practices and the traffic laws of Barbados. If driving instructors are allowed to pass on their own bad practices, driving on the island’s roads can only worsen.
6. Make it a traffic offence for Driving Instructors to take learner-drivers on to the ABC or other similar highway until that learner has been practicing for sufficient time to time to be able to drive safely at 80 KPH.
7. Implement the ticketing system for traffic violations where the offender is assessed a preset fine for that particular violation but has the option of contesting it in court as they wish. This will ease congestion in the courts and allow them to focus on more serious offences.
I TAKE MY CAP OFF TO YOU CONDUCTOR : 2/4/2010
I take My cap off to you CONDUCTOR. Well said , well written. I was so angry I did not have much to say about it. I was sure someone would have dealt with it the way that was required.
ZR ARE CASH COWS : 2/4/2010
We all know the the govement love the zr/zm/mini buses. why? well there are CASH COWS that why.Only In barbados can a driver do that and get a way.
if i had arrested him here in florida with that rap sheet.I would had a promotion for it.
ha ha ha only in barbados!
...and he still driving : 2/4/2010
All this and he still driving, woo, only in barbados!
1999 & 198 ?????? : 2/4/2010
On Tuesday, Archer, 47, of Kendall Hill, Christ Church, was arraigned with causing Errol Thornhill's death by driving route taxi ZR 42 on Martindales Road, St Michael, at a speed and in a manner dangerous to the public on February 8, 1999. ---- IS THIS A MISTAKE IN THE PRINTING OF THE YEAR, THIS REALLY HAPPENED IN 1999 ??? BUT IT NOW 2010,"HUH" AM I MISSING ALOT HERE OR WHAT, HOW SLOW ARE THINGS THERE THAT HE GOT 198 CONVICTIONS, 198 !!! IF HE WAS HERE IN ARIZONA HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SHERIFFS' TENT CITY SPENDING SOME SERIOUS TIME. --- 198 CONVICTIONS ????? !!!!
State Liability : 2/4/2010
The Govt of Bdos should be held liable for this man's death and be made to pay substantial damages to his family. What is the purpose of regulatory bodies such as the Licencing Dept, the Royal Bdos Police Force and the Courts? One of the more important functions is to maintain public safety. Allowing a person to accumulate so many convictions and still operate a PSV is criminally negligent at worst and at the very least a dereliction of duty. Where are the civic minded attorneys who could take up this case on behalf of this poor man's family? Even then, they can still earn a significant fee if a large judgement was awarded. It is time we in Barbados hold to account the various Govt agencies, whose job it is and who consume many taxpayers dollars.
: 2/4/2010
YOU PEOPLE ARE A SLEEP AT THE WHEEL . THIS ANIMAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL A LONG TIME AGO AND THE KEY THROWN IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA . THIS IS PURE MURDER AND THEN HAVE THE NERVE TO FLEE THE SEEN FOR THAT ALONE HE WOULD HAVE SOME HARD JAIL TIME HERE IN THE STATES.
CALIFORNIA BALAN
SCARY : 2/4/2010
It was said on one of our call in programmes that the accused now works with Transport . I am hoping that this lady has made a mistake .With all these convictions and one outstanding where there no checks done.
THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE TAKE TOOO LONG.This is over eleven years that this family has suffered without closure.As i read some of the other comments ,one stands out.The insinuation is that his father has assisted him out of trouble constantly.but can he give Mr. Thornill's grandson one moment of a grandfathers LOVE.Can his money buy that???
TO PassengerofLife : 2/4/2010
I am 100% percent in agreement. Moreover, given the facts as reported in this particular case and the accused's voluminous traffic convictions, I am somewhat curious as to why the prosecutor was inclined to accept a plea to a lesser charge.
What does a ZR operator have to do : 2/4/2010
Mr.Archer is a hardworking ZR driver who did everything possible to obtain the help & attention that he badly needed. Public Safety officials, Archer’s PASSENGERS and colleagues ALL ignored his desperate pleas for help.
Here is a list of some of the extraordinary lengths to which Mr. Archer went to get the authorities’ attention.
Got stopped by police - 50 times while carrying extra passengers
Got stopped by police - 33 times for being off route
Got stopped by police - 20 times for failing to display his badge
Got stopped by police - 13 times for carrying more than one person next to him Got stopped by police - 11 times for stopping @ other than a bus stop
Got stopped by police - 9 times for playing loud music.
Got stopped - Numerous other times…. Didn’t get stopped on numerous occasions.
Now tell me what else does a fella have to do in Barbados to get a little help… Get stopped by the police another 500 times or kill somebody?????...He killed somebody...Let the Public safety officials go and counsel the deadman's family about road safety.
Not until a ZR van kills a group of tourists : 2/4/2010
Not until there are pictures on CNN and travel magazines of the dead\mangled bodies of tourists killed on Barbados streets by ZR vans will the authorities responsible for public safety take any action.
Couple of concerns (1) unless all 198 offenses were committed in a very short period of time why is it that none of them came to trial. It would seem that if any of violations came to trial this driver wasn't likely to show up ... and if so an order could have been issued for his arrest… maybe there was the assumption that it was just a matter of time before he killed\maimed somebody and we will get him then. A driver with a 198 traffic violations clearly doesn't give a damn and is a law unto himself and should have been denied the privilege of driving a vehicle, it would be interesting to know when his license was last renewed ; also one can be certain that traffic laws aren't the only ones he flouted ... what about equipment violations, contraband, drugs etc (2) Seems like it was common knowledge that this driver was out of control and a menace to society .... why then would people still travel with him?
Justice is far too slow : 2/4/2010
I love my country, but its speed of justice is making Barbados a laughing stock across the world.
10 years to long : 2/4/2010
why has it taken 10 years for this case to come to court...that is the real injustice, this person is allowed to go on breaking the law for 10 years after killing someone on the road...Somebody is really having a laught at the tax payers expence...
Please tell me what's wrong with our justice system : 2/4/2010
The justice system in Barbados is one of sorriest in the universe. 198 convictions and if the cyclist was not klled then there would have been more. What a travesty that this kind of unconscionable behavior is condoned by those who should be stopping it. It is condoned when travesties such as this is taken so lightly and the offenders get a slap on the wrist. I am emabarrassed that we have come to this (soft law). No wonder the crime rate is increasing in Barbados. It is time to come up with some solutions to deter this crime spree.
He not known to the Court : 2/4/2010
Archer broke the traffic record worldwide
He should of been disqualified long time.
Shame on the Courts , where was his reports from the first ,second ,third or even the 10th offence
Having a laugh
: 2/4/2010
Plea to a lesser offence ..howcan that be . A man is dead. Did the court hear any evidence of his behaviour prior to the accident. Who as a descent responsible caring citizen would have employed such a person.The owner or employer should be exposed to the public for what he/she is.The memmory of aiding a person to deprive a family of they love ones should haunt the Owner for life . The owner should also be brought to justice or is he/she above the law?. The driver only drove because the owner employed him to do so
I hope this owner is sued for every thing he has and the driver never be able to drive again. MY THOUGHTS GOES OUT TO THE DECEASED FAMILY
: 2/4/2010
Seems to me that you have to KILL someone with your motor vehicle before you can get your licence taken away...and not even then!!
: 2/4/2010
By the time I return to Bim from New York, he should be locked up ... one less to worry about when driving doing my errands.
: 2/4/2010
This 'man' has no regard for the Laws of Barbados or for the lives of people. Whatever the maximum sentence is for manslaughter, he should get it. "Dangerous driving"?
Enabled by the weak system : 2/4/2010
Why did one of the nation's highest lawyers in black robes not reject this plea out of hand? Who is advocating for Errol Thornhill?
Does his family not feel pain and deep sadness about his death which no amount of money could make whole. The judicary is funded by the taxpayers of Barbados, therefore the citizens expect the highest level of compentency in the adjudication of cases. We expect that rulings must relflect the need to maintain a just and kind society. We want it to be fair and be as expeditious as possible. When lawyers start running the court we become concerned!
This case certainly needs another look and should have gone in front a jury. Maybe that is too late but the Chief Justice or Attorney General needs to tell the people of Barbados what has gone on here. Why a plea bargain down to the lowest denominator when all the elements of guilt were so blaring! There should be some administrative review on this outcome. I am sure that he was not a tourist on a bicycle so his life and existence automatically takes on a lesser value. Driving is a privelege and Cyril O'Brien is over-priveleged! The man was an immiment threat to other road users and had a hatred for law and order which is obvious from his plentifull refusals to show his driver's badge. Who is next because Cyril O'Brien is not the only one with the deadly weapon? Who do I have to turn to for some semblance of respect and responsibily on the roads? Maybe this is the non-partison issue that we all need by forcing our political leaders to review this multiple infraction clause and creating a category of license for ZR drivers that would seperate the sheep from the goats. Eg:specific amount of years of driving, limited infractions requirement, special written test, mandated unannounced drug testing(in conjunction with owner's input) etc. Can a country simply call itself developed because of an explosion in construction? Where does the neglect of the fundemental building blocks of the society such as the respect for simple traffic laws and questionable legal rulings stack up!
Negligence : 2/4/2010
At some point in time someone in the justice system should have taken away this person's driving and PSV license. To me this shows disrespect for our police officers who stay up next to vehicles, risking their lives in oncoming traffic to write tickets for traffic offences. Don't wait until it gets to that number of offences, allowing him to chalk up 197 convictions cost a man his life. This is more than a traffic accident, this shows negligence on someone's part.
Conviction No.108! : 2/4/2010
Does this guy own the roads that he can behave like this? For a start,the roads are very small and caution should be foremostin the minds of motorists as a whole.Whereever Itravel,Barbadian drivers are considered to some of the bestin the world.This is a great compliment;so please, get this Lunatic"off the roads and let us keep our good reputation.
He want he neck popping : 2/4/2010
This man as far as I am concern kill with intent. When you take off in a minibus as if the devil on your tail, the end result could only be somebody gine end up death, and all the allow him to plea to is dangerous driving, bet by tomorrow morning he driving another bus again. If the young man that he killed mother or father did hunt he down and run he backside over them would have end up with a murder charge cause the courts would say it premeditated. This is bare stupidness, thank God I ain't living in Barbados cause as far as I concern if the Courts ain't doing what they suppose to do well it is time for another form of justice...an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
198 convictions : 2/4/2010
how in God's green earth was this man allowed to enter a plea. Errol Thornhill was a husband, a father, a grandfather etc. Was his life worhtless? this is a serious miscarriage of justice after all this time, this poor man's family must be as ashamed of this system as I am.
HELLO : 2/4/2010
Only the maximum sentence will suffice and really that probably won't be enough he deserves life in prison and lucky for him he has a sensible lawyer who decided not to chance for a convivtion on the more serious count.
Travesty of Justice : 2/4/2010
After close to 200 convictions, this man willfully and recklessly took another's life. Then, he tried to escape punishment by fleeing the scene. I am disappointed that this career criminal was allowed to plead out to a lesser charge. It diminishes the value of the life of the person he killed. In essence, he is still getting away with murder. I am not sure what happens in the afterlife, but I hope the victim haunts his soul for the rest of this criminal's natural life.
198 convictions : 2/4/2010
Because of this man my son has never seen his grandfather- it has taken the judicial system 11 years to address this matter. 11 years. It is a miracle that no other family has suffered as our family has. I hope and pray the the penalty is stiff and this animal would not be allowed to taste freedom ever again.
Withdraw his driving licence : 2/4/2010
People should be thoroughly vetted before they are issues permits to drive public service vehicles. Such persons should be of good character, law abiding, and responsible members of the community not hit and run vagabonds. This man should be banned from driving any sort of vehicle for life, he should not even be allowed to be in charge of a donkey cart filled with manure.
SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE AGAIN : 2/4/2010
This man should not have been on the road, and should not be allowed to drive on the roads of Barbados again. This plead bargaining is a bare joke
Lock him up for a long time please : 2/4/2010
If anyone wants to know why the problem of the ZR culture cannot be solved easily, look no further than this article. 198 traffic convictions and the DEATH of another human being AND fleeing from the scene,and all he gets is a guilty plea of dangerous driving? He probably will be back out in society in 5-10 years max. These people have no fear, because the law gives them absolutely no reason to be deterred from their reckless practices.
198????? : 2/4/2010
We really serious? 198 ? Somebody sleeping on the job. Please see if we can bring back magistrate Perry. I wonder who this driver was working for. Because he should be in court too.
Guilty On all 198 counts!! : 2/4/2010
Finally this killer will pay for his wrong doings.. I hope the judge lock him up and trow away the key, it was a senseless killing that day all because he was in a hurry to pick up the passengers in front of another minibus to which I was a passenger, his wrong doings began from in the vanstand where he blocked the entrance ahead of all the vans that was there before him, in doing that then hastily leaving in front of the van I was in this ended up in a race to Silver Hill, when he drove through the exit by Queens Park with little consideration for the other approaching cars,thats when me and all the others in my van pleaded with our driver to let him go on and take his time taking into consideration our lives at stake, which he did. all the while we watch in awe as Cyril made his way around the round a bout towards Martindales Road... That accident could have been avoided if he was not in such a hurry from the beggining to start with, but you know as the old folks say " crave all lose all" he wanted all the passengers ahead of everyone who was there before him, just because he think he and his ZR van was bigger, better and faster than anybody else.. with his loud music blaring. Who is ya DADDY now CYRIL ARCHER, tell him bring his money and stop this jail sentence.. like how you escape over the years with all those convictions and still was allowed to drive mini bus, i knew the accused well and trust me all those offences he is charged with he did... Tell me people do anybody think he had a right to be still driving innocent people around?? Which in the end gave him the oppertunity to take that innocent man's life and ran away and left him the way he did. That was no accident that was RECKLESS MURDER USING THE ZR VAN AS THE WEAPON!!May that man's soul rest in peace now and his ghost haunt you Cyril for the rest of your life...
: 2/4/2010
This should have never happen because there is no way he should still be driving ZR with so many traffic violations. His license should be taken away long time. But we wait for something serious to happen then to address the problem. Wake up!!!!!!
Dangerous Driver : 2/4/2010
With 197 previous traffic convictions why was he still in possession of a driver's license? Something is woefully wrong here!!!
Conviction No. 198 : 2/4/2010
Why do we always have to wait until something terrible happens to deal with situations. I cannot believe that a person with 198 convictions could still have been driving on the roads. It is evident that this man has no respect for the law, the others users on the roads or even for the passengers that he is carrying. He thinks he is a law onto himself. Unfortunately he is not the only one, there are many other minibus drivers with a very large number of convictions. What is wrong with our system that these animals are not off the roads of Barbados, when they show such blatant disresect for law or life. How many more times must this happen before something serious is done?
The authorities are showing us, the other users of the roads, that they do not care about us either. These animals must be taken of the roads. A system must be put in place, that maybe after 5 convictions or some other number that seems appropriate, that they can no longer be drivers on our roads. Why must all of us suffer because of these disgusting drivers.
Concerned road user
POOR : 2/4/2010
The court system here is poor, they are just as responsible for the death of that cyclist as the lunatic ZR driver, How on God's earth can a man with so many convictions be allowed to drive people on the roads of this country. His license should have be removed by the 30th conviction which would still be too long to wait. These guys have no respect for anyone on the road, and should be required to take some social responsibility exam before they are allowed to drive public service vehicles.
JW
Conviction No.198 : 2/4/2010
That is the courts for you. What took so long for the courts to reconize that he was going to kill someone. It took them 197 incidents. What a shame!. I hope that he gets some significant time for the lost of life.
: 2/4/2010
Is there a charge of "being paid from the public purse under false pretences"? or defrauding the public?
What law can we lock up some of these magistrates under? We are paying them and they are not protecting us from these criminals by getting them off the road.
How many convictions does it require for them to realise that this idiot has no intentions of following the rules?
Certainly we don't need to get into double figures.
Next thing, he kill a whole man, and it take 11 years to hear the case?
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