ST ANN, Jamaica — An Indian national, who was charged with manslaughter after the jet ski he was driving crashed into a group of people killing a seven-year-old girl and injuring others in 2014, was freed in the St Ann Circuit Court today. 

Ranjan Mandyal was freed after a seven-member jury returned a not guilty verdict on Friday afternoon. Mandyal was charged following the death of Tanoya Hyman of Christiana, Manchester on August 17, 2014.

Reports are that Mandyal was driving the jet ski when he lost control crashing into the group at the Ocho Rios Bay Beach.  Hyman and family members, including two sisters, were sitting on the beach when the out-of-control jet ski crashed into them.  

Mandyal, who was on vacation in the island at the time of the incident, was charged with manslaughter. The 32-year-old, who was on bail, returned to the island for several hearings before the matter was tried in the St Ann Circuit Court this week.  He was represented by attorney Linton Gordon.

Renae Dixon