Sheryl Cooper, 39, the Domino’s Pizza delivery woman who was found guilty of killing in the course of dangerous driving was basically let off the hook by Magistrate Franklyn Williams of Freeport yesterday.
Ms. Cooper was convicted on November 23 in connection with the Friday, January 23, 2004 traffic accident that caused the death of American visitor Dottie Powell, 54, of Pickering-ton, Ohio.
Ms. Powell’s daughter, Kelly Hill, said she was pleased with the guilty verdict but is outrgaed by the sentence. A long-time regular visitor to Grand Bahama, Ms. Hill said she feels robbed of justice and will never return to the Bahamas again. The family is shocked and outraged by the lack of justice saying the sentence of a $5,000 fine (with special ez-payment arrangements) does not fit the crime. Ms. Hill along with her stepfather travelled from Ohio for the trial.
Ms. Cooper, who was represented by attorney Ntshonda Tynes, was the driver of the silver 1998 Hyundai Accent, which collided with the taxi at the intersection of Seahorse Road and Shearwater Drive, near the Seahorse Shopping Plaza, around 8:30 p.m.
Mrs. Powell, who became the island’s first traffic fatality for 2004, was among a group of nine from Ohio who had begun their vacation in Grand Bahama January 21.
The group of family and friends included the deceased; her husband Charles; her sister Linda Garrett and her husband David; William Miller, and David and Vickie Bennett. They were all passengers in a mini-bus taxi #158, a white 1999 Toyota Hiace, driven by Carl Ferguson, 61, when the horrific accident occurred.
By ANGELO ARMBRISTER, Freeport News Reporter
