A DRUNK driver was yesterday jailed for two and half years for causing the death of a youngster through reckless driving.
Thai al Salay Rushdi, 24, from Sri Lanka, pleaded guilty to causing the death of 19-year-old Frederick Psyllides, whose motorbike collided with Rushdi’s car, which had crossed over into the oncoming lane on two wheels at 91kmh. The accident happened in October 2004.
Rushdi was also injured in the crash, sustaining minor injuries, as were his two passengers, also from Sri Lanka.
The collision was head-on, with Psyllides, who was working as a deliveryman for a pizza franchise, sustaining fatal injuries.
The accident occurred on Eleonon Street in Strovolos, a stretch of road which had claimed other lives in the past. At the time of the accident, residents had complained of poor lighting and the absence of speed bumps.
Judge Natalia Talaridou said it was the “selfishness of the accused which had lead to the terrible tragedy that claimed the life of a young man”.
She added: “The driver ignored his better judgment and in a selfish act decided to drive despite knowing the consequences. He was driving twice over the legal speed limit on that road, he was under the influence of alcohol, he was driving without a licence and insurance, he was on the opposite side of the road and the vehicle he was driving was not on four wheels at the time of the accident.”
Turning to Rushdi’s current situation, Judge Talaridou said that the accused was from a poor family, was injured himself in the crash and was young when the accident happened. She also said that she believed the defence’s plea that the accused felt deep remorse for what had happened, but insisted that justice still had to be served.
“He is a dangerous driver and showed serious selfishness when he decided to get behind the wheel of the car. The problem of road accidents on the island is very serious.
Although we have good enough roads and little congestion, we see road accidents increasing all the time. That is because of selfish acts by drivers. Acts like the one in this case.
“These punishments have to be dealt with severely if we are to progress in tackling the problem.”
Judge Talaridou sentenced Rushdi to two and a half years’ imprisonment for the first charge of causing death through reckless driving. He was not sentenced for the other three charges of committing a dangerous act, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a licence and insurance.
