A man was sentenced to 24 months in prison yesterday after he failed to meet court-ordered payments following his conviction for causing death by dangerous driving.
In June 2024, Claude Steadroy James was convicted of killing Elba Perez, a Hispanic woman in her 60s, following a trial surrounding the fatal incident which occurred on the night of April 13, 2021, on Joseph Lane, when James struck Perez with his vehicle.
Medical reports revealed the severity of Perez’ injuries upon arrival at the hospital, showing that she suffered extensive trauma including severe lacerations to the roof of her mouth, tongue, and upper lip with profuse bleeding.
She also sustained bruising around her left eye and impaired vision, with her right eye showing slow reaction to light while her left eye showed no response at all. Chest X-rays revealed multiple rib fractures to both the front and back ribs, and she had bleeding in her brain from the impact.
After hearing testimony from multiple witnesses over several weeks, the jury found James guilty of causing Perez’ death.
Justice Tunde Bakre subsequently sentenced James to pay $15,000 in compensation to the deceased’s family within 90 days and a $4,000 fine within 60 days, warning that failure to meet these payments would result in a 24-month prison sentence.
When James appeared in court yesterday for defaulting on his payments, he attempted to explain the circumstances that prevented him from meeting the court’s requirements. He told the court he had made multiple visits to the High Court and was informed that an email would be sent to his bank to facilitate the payment, but when this process failed to materialize after considerable time, he requested to speak directly with the judge for an extension but was told this was not the proper procedure.
He then contacted his lawyer who refused to provide assistance without payment.
James then broke down in tears as he recounted the tragic loss of his 15-year-old daughter, Achazia James, in August 2024. The teenager was found dead on Runway Beach, having suffered multiple chop wounds, with one hand severed.
James claimed that dealing with his daughter’s murder had created additional hardships that affected his ability to make payments.
Despite his explanation, Justice Tunde Bakre proceeded with the alternative sentence and sent him to prison for the 24-month term.
