An ex-police officer, now taxi driver, accused of knocking down and causing the death of a 6-year-old child saw his case’s conclusion in the courtroom of Justice Colin Williams on Friday, November 8, 2019. Albert Martinez, 45, was spared jail time after he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing death by careless conduct. He was originally indicted on the charge of manslaughter by negligence but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge once the prosecution amended the charge. For the guilty plea of the new charge, Martinez was fined $3,000 to be paid by September 1, 2020. Should he default on this payment, he faces nine months in prison. In court, Martinez was unrepresented.
The incident for which Martinez was charged dates back to February 6, 2017 when Ashanty Pollard, 6, was walking with her mother, Dawn Swasey. The duo was hit at the intersection of Krooman and Faber’s Roads Extension by a Toyota Corolla car, driven by Martinez who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time. Pollard died on the spot while her mother received minor injuries.
In court, Martinez expressed his remorse. The victim’s father, Seyon Pollard, says that he does not believe the judge’s ruling to be fair since there was no suspension or termination on his driver’s license.
