Court halts guilty plea U-turn for driver who fatally struck woman

A motorist who fatally struck a woman on a sidewalk nearly four years ago will be sentenced on May 30, after the Supreme Court denied his request to change his guilty plea.

Christopher Gordon admitted in May 2023 to causing the fatal collision that claimed the life of Verona Nelson on May 6, 2021, near Andrews Memorial Hospital in St Andrew. A post-mortem confirmed Nelson died from haemorrhage and shock because of multiple blunt-force injuries to the head and neck.

Gordon told investigators that he swerved to avoid hitting Nelson, veered off the road, and mounted the sidewalk. He claimed shock prevented him from braking in time. A reconstruction report confirmed that the impact occurred on the sidewalk, throwing Nelson into a concrete wall.

Before pleading guilty, Gordon acknowledged during a coroner’s inquest in April 2022 that he was “responsible for the lady” as it was his car and he was the captain. He claimed the vehicle was defective but denied speeding.

Later, after switching attorneys, Gordon sought to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing it was equivocal and involuntary. His new lawyer, John-Mark Reid, filed the application in September 2024, claiming Gordon had not fully understood the offence and felt pressured into pleading guilty. He also argued that proceeding with the plea – for which he did not understand the potential implications on his livelihood – would deny Gordon the chance to present a strong defence and violate his right to a fair trial.

However, Justice Lisa Palmer denied the request, stating the Crown’s evidence was sufficient to support the dangerous driving charge. She said Gordon’s plea was clear and voluntary and that he had understood the offence at the time.

She added that this was not an appropriate case to exercise her discretion in allowing a change of plea, and that concerns over livelihood were not valid grounds to change the plea.

The Crown’s case included a reconstruction report and Gordon’s formal statement, as no eyewitnesses were present.

Gordon stated he was driving from August Town to Half-Way Tree in the left lane when he saw Nelson walking near the hospital gate. He claimed he swerved to avoid her but the vehicle mounted the sidewalk and made contact.

However, the reconstruction expert reported the car was likely travelling between 50 and 80 km/h – above the speed limit – and that the crash was more consistent with careless driving than deliberate evasive action.

During the inquest, Gordon added that he saw Nelson near the roadway and assumed she had stepped back on to the sidewalk, but he may have panicked or overreacted.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com