Ex- O.W. Mayor loses appeal on traffic case

Aaron Humes: Ravell Gonzalez, the former Mayor of Orange Walk Town, lost the appeal of his conviction by a jury of two counts of causing death by careless conduct upon a 2 year old child, identified as Martita Lopez, and a family friend, Manuel Coto. 

The aspiring attorney is now on the hook for more in court fines and compensation to his two dead victims’ family.

37 year old Gonzalez, on June 15, 2008, knocked down and killed Lopez and Coto at mile 35 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. At trial in August of 2015, he was fined $4,000 for each count and he was ordered to pay $1,000 to the family of the victims.

However, the Court of Appeal, hearing an appeal by the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, set aside that sentence and ordered him to pay a fine of $8,000 and $10,000 in compensation to the family of the victims. He must pay the fine and compensation over a period of 2 years. If he defaults on payment he will serve 9 months.

Gonzalez had already paid off the amount due previously.

Gonzalez was represented by attorney Tricia Pitts Anderson. The DPP, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, was assisted by Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith.

 

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