KINGSTON, Jamaica – A Russian national who caused the death of four people in a motor vehicle crash along the Port Royal main road in December 2022 was spared prison time in the Home Circuit Court Thursday.

Alexey Zaytsev, 53, had pleaded guilty to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was fined $500,000 or three months’ imprisonment on each count. The accused was also given seven days within which to pay the fines, which totalled $2 million.

In making the case for Zaytsev not to be imprisoned, his attorney, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, pointed to several mitigating circumstances.

Champagnie pointed to the fact that some relatives of the victims of the accident had expressed the view that they did not wish to see the accused go to prison. He also pointed out that although money could not compensate for the loss of life, civil action had been initiated and that the insurance company of his client was prepared to consider any claims for financial compensation.
Additionally, it was noted that Zaytsev did not have any previous convictions and had expressed great sadness at the loss of lives. After hearing the attorney’s submissions, the judge ordered the fines.

Those killed in the incident were Rosemarie Roberts-Banton, 57; Zachery Heslop, 18; taxi operator, Delroy Grant, 53; and Camille Stephenson-Grant.

Reports were that about 5:45 am on December 11, 2022, Grant was driving his Toyota Succeed motor car along the roadway when, upon reaching the vicinity of the roundabout, it collided with a Toyota Prado Land Cruiser driven by Zaytsev.

The police and the fire department were alerted, and six injured people were transported to hospital. Roberts-Banton, Heslop, Grant and Stephenson-Grant were pronounced dead, while the two occupants of the Land Cruiser were treated and released.