The trial of Reshielle Lagurin Magsino, a 44-year-old Filipina domestic helper, began on Tuesday at the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts. Magsino faces charges of dangerous driving causing death following a tragic incident in 2021 where a car she was driving fatally injured a French woman and left seven others wounded.
The accident occurred on the evening of December 10, 2021, on the steep incline of Peel Street in Central, at its junction with Staunton Street. The victim, identified as Elodie Ma, was struck by the vehicle outside a restaurant, sustaining severe head injuries from which she succumbed the following day.
Magsino, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, was driving a car registered to her employer when she lost control. The court, presided over by Deputy District Judge Timothy Casewell, heard that Magsino had been a licensed driver since 2013 and possessed around nine years of driving experience at the time of the incident.
Details presented in court highlighted that the road conditions were dry and the weather clear, with the road itself having a 1:4 slope and a speed limit of 50 km/h. Security footage revealed that the car began to slide down the slope immediately after Magsino and her employer exited the vehicle. In a desperate attempt to regain control, Magsino was struck by the open car door, fell, and then chased the runaway vehicle.
The impact of the car not only claimed Ma's life but also injured seven others who were nearby. Some were chatting on nearby stairs, others dodged the vehicle, and one was hit by a railing dislodged by the car. Police responded to the incident at approximately 8:07 pm, and Magsino was taken into custody shortly thereafter.
The case, which has drawn significant attention due to the circumstances of the accident and the backgrounds of those involved, continues with further hearings scheduled for this Friday, July 5th.
菲律賓家庭傭工在上水街意外致一死七傷案開審
2024年7月2日 - (香港) 44歲的菲律賓家庭傭工Reshielle Lagurin Magsino在星期二於荃灣裁判法院開庭受審。Magsino被控因駕駛危險導致他人死亡的罪名,這起案件發生在2021年,當時她駕駛的車輛撞死一名法國女子,並造成其他七人受傷。
事故發生在2021年12月10日晚上,地點在中環皮孟街與司徒拔街交界的陡坡上。受害人Elodie Ma在一家餐廳外被車輛撞擊,造成嚴重頭部損傷,翌日不治。
被告Magsino已否認控罪,她在事故當時駕駛由僱主提供的一輛車。審訊由副裁判官Timothy Casewell主持,法庭聽取証據指Magsino自2013年持有駕駛執照,在事故發生時已有約9年駕駛經驗。
法庭展示的資料顯示,當時天氣晴朗,路面乾燥,皮孟街坡度達1:4,限速50公里。閉路電視片段顯示,車輛在Magsino及其僱主下車後立即失控下滑,Magsino試圖重拾控制時被車門撞倒,隨即追趕逃逸的車輛。
車輛不單奪去Ma的生命,還造成其他七人受傷,有人正在附近階梯聊天,有人急忙閃避,亦有一人被車撞到欄杆。警方於晚上約8時07分到場,並隨後拘捕Magsino。
這宗案件因涉及意外情節及當事人背景,引起廣泛關注,下次聆訊定於7月5日(星期五)進行。
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