A Pembroke man has admitted causing the death of a man by driving while impaired.

Ishmael Lightbourne, 41, pleaded guilty yesterday in the Supreme Court to causing the death of Shannon-Hugh Davis, 39, by driving on North Shore Road while over the legal blood-alcohol limit.

He also pleaded guilty to charges that he caused the death of Mr Davis by driving with a dangerous drug in his system and driving dangerously on the same date.

Mr Davis, from Hamilton Parish, died after his bike and another bike were in collision on North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish on March 1, 2019.

A police spokesman said at the time that Mr Davis suffered serious injuries when his motorcycle struck an oncoming motorcycle between Trinity Church Road and Panorama Drive at about 6.40pm that day.

His death was the second on Bermuda’s roads that year.

Victoria Greening, counsel for Lightbourne, said her client had no previous convictions and urged the court to release him on bail pending his sentence while reports are carried out.

She added that he had not driven any vehicles since the fatal crash and had no intention of doing so in the future.

Ms Greening said: “He doesn’t feel safe doing so after what has taken place.”

Cindy Clarke, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said she had no objection to Lightbourne being released on bail.

But she added that the Crown would be seeking an immediate custodial sentence given the nature of the offences.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons ordered both a drug assessment and a social inquiry report on Lightbourne, but noted that because of the pandemic court-ordered reports had been taken longer to prepare.

In the circumstances, Mrs Justice Simmons released Lightbourne on bail until January 11 when he is expected to return to the court for sentencing.

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