(CMR) Tonilee Loretta Hutchinson, the mother of Shayne Anthony Ewart, who was killed in a crash during a police chase in 2021, has filed a lawsuit against the Commissioner of Police and the driver of the car Tarrick Kevin Crawford.
Tarrick Kevin Crawford, who is also charged in the death of Chuck Ebanks, has still not pleaded in both matters as his fitness to plea has been under question due to his mental heath. Both matters have been delayed several times as a psychiatric examination of Crawford was sought.
In February 2023, a psychiatric report presented in court concluded that Crawford was not fit to plea due to his slow capability of information processing which would make it difficult to concentrate on the proceedings.
A second report also returned similar findings; however, the prosecution has asked for a third report. A US-based psychiatrist is expected to see Crawford, who is expected to return to court in February.
According to court documents, Hutchinson brings this action on behalf of the son's estate and as a dependant of the deceased pursuant to the Torts (Reform) Act (1996 Revision) and pursuant to the grant of letters of administration in the estate of the late Shayne Anthony Ewart on 24th June 2022.
Shayne Anthony Ewart died on 16th January 2021 in a road traffic accident on the West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, when the vehicle in which he was traveling as a front-seat passenger (and driven by Crawford) collided with a concrete structure.
Reports from the police are that at about 12:15 am, officers were conducting a vehicle checkpoint on the northbound lane of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway in the vicinity of the Yacht Club Roundabout when a green Honda Accord traveled through the checkpoint, ignoring officers’ instructions to stop.
The RCIPS said officers activated blue lights and sirens and followed the vehicle at a safe distance; however, they soon lost sight of the vehicle, and the decision was made to return to the checkpoint. Shortly after, the vehicle crashed into a house on West Bay Road in the vicinity of Willie Farrington Drive. There were conflicting reports about this, with several people claiming the crash happened while the car was being chased by the police.
The three occupants of the vehicle were transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital. Ewart, who was a passenger in the car, was subsequently pronounced dead.
Hutchinson claims for loss and damage on behalf of the estate and or pursuant to the said Torts
(Reform) Act (1996 Revision) to be assessed and to include loss and damage by way of dependency, distress and inconvenience, funeral expenses and special losses, including out-of
pocket expenses and costs. The Plaintiff further claims interest pursuant to the Judicature Act
(2021 Revision) and the Grand Court Rules.
Paris Ebanks (26), who was a passenger in the rear of the car, also filed a lawsuit against the driver of the car and the Commissioner of Police last year.
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