began serving a one-year prison sentence yesterday.

Lerone Malcolm Ming, of Ord Road, Paget said he had known 16-year-old Zeita Matthew and her family and deeply regretted the tragedy.

"Nobody regrets her death more than me and I have to deal with it every day of my life, your Honour,'' he told Justice Norma Wade Miller.

Prison officers stood aside as family members and friends -- some of whom cried openly in court -- made tearful farewells to the 25-year-old.

Ming pleaded guilty earlier this year to causing death by dangerous driving and driving while disqualified on June 7, 1997.

Crown counsel Charlene Scott said Ming's motorcycle collided with Ms Matthew's as he overtook a line of cars on South Road, Paget.

Both riders were carrying pillion passengers.

Ms Matthew remained comatose in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for two weeks until she was pronounced dead.

Before sentencing, defence lawyer Renee Foggo said Ming was deeply remorseful about the accident and had submerged himself in work in an attempt to deal with his pain.

"Bear in mind that the sentence should not be so high as to sap everything else out of him so that he doesn't have the desire to continue on the positive path that he is on,'' said Ms Foggo.

Mrs. Justice Wade Miller noted Ming's strong family support and recommended counselling to see them through the ongoing crisis.

And she noted: "At times the young feel like he or she is invincible until something like this occurs.'' She sentenced Ming to one year in prison for causing death by dangerous driving and one month imprisonment for driving while disqualified.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

Jailed: Lerone Malcolm Ming Graphic file name: MINNGI