WESTERN BUREAU

A Westmoreland man, who was allegedly on the run for six years after his alleged involvement in a fatal hit-and-run accident, will face a preliminary enquiry in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on January 27.

When the matter against 33-year-old 'duco man' Kenneth Williams was mentioned on Monday, the court was informed that the outstanding post-mortem report and witness statement were on file.

Two counts of manslaughter

Williams is charged with two counts of manslaughter stemming from the death of sisters Serian and Ronica Thorpe. They were hit down and killed while walking along a roadway in Rose Heights, St James.

The accused man's bail was extended while subpoenas were ordered for the witnesses in the matter to attend the preliminary enquiry.

A witness reported that he was at his place of business in Rose Heights on August 7, 2001, when he saw three girls walking on the left side of the road. He heard tires screech and saw a Toyota station wagon almost in the air coming over the hill.

The court heard that the car slid to the side of the road and hit two of the girls, one of whom was thrown some yards away while the other was thrown on to the bonnet. The witness alleges that the vehicle came to stop at a pile of stones, when the girl fell off the vehicle.

The accused subsequently fled the scene.