Two men were formally charged in Magistrates’ Court today in connection with the crash at a checkpoint that left a Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) soldier in critical condition and his colleague in need of medical treatment.
Makhail Saltus, 26, was charged with dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm to Private Ndavyah Williams and an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Private Williams while driving whilst impaired.
He was further charged with causing bodily harm to Private Kirk Wilks by “reckless, wanton or furious driving” and refusing to take the breath test.
Co-defendant Giovanni Saltus, 34, his cousin, were both charged with being out after the 11pm curfew and a further charge of attempting to leave the scene of a road traffic accident.
Both defendants were not required to enter a plea to the indictable offences which will go before a judge and jury in the Supreme Court.
The incident occurred on Monday night (June 29) at a checkpoint set up near Demco florists in Devonshire.
Private Williams suffered serious internal injuries that required emergency surgery in the United States.
Private Wilks suffered a broken leg.
Senior Magistrate Juan Wolffe released Makhail Saltus, from Hamilton Parish, on $10,000 bail and ordered him to report to Hamilton Police Station three times a week and stick to a curfew from 10pm to 6am.
Giovanni Saltus, also from Hamilton Parish, was released on $3,000 bail and ordered to report to Hamilton Police Station once a week and observe the same curfew.
The case was adjourned until September 1.
