The Mercury
Suzette Ratcliffe stands with her placards, one with a picture of her son William who was killed in a crash allegedly caused by a drunk driver. Photo: Sbu Ndlovu
Durban – Today is the first anniversary of the death of three-year-old William Ratcliffe, but the alleged drunk driver claimed to have caused the crash in which he was killed is yet to go on trial.
Pensioner Robert Ian Gilmore, 63, is alleged to have driven through the intersection of Kingsway and Old Main Road in Amanzimtoti, crashing into the BMW that William was travelling in.
William died in hospital soon after the accident.
His mother, Suzette Ratcliffe, who was driving the BMW, and her two-year-old son James survived the crash.
Gilmore is facing charges of murder, driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless and negligent driving.
Ratcliffe and her family, carrying placards with a picture of William and slogans which read “Don’t Drink and Drive”, held a picket outside the Durban Regional Court where Gilmore was meant to go on trial on Wednesday.
The case did not go ahead because Gilmore’s lawyer, Carl van der Merwe, asked for an adjourment, saying he had urgent business in London this week and could not start the case.
Prosecutor Barend Groen said the State was ready to proceed with the trial.
“We are not happy. Our witnesses are here and we are ready to start. But we cannot do anything given the circumstances that the attorney finds himself in.”
Ratcliffe’s family and friends in the public gallery were visibly upset and angrily questioned why the matter was being stalled.
Speaking outside court, Ratcliffe said she was disappointed that the trial had not begun.
“This week is the one-year anniversary and while we knew it would be tough dealing with the trial and the anniversary, we wanted to work through it.”
She said her family were still coming to terms with William’s death.
“It is difficult. My other son, James, asks for William every day and it is hard to explain what happened.
“We just want to move on, but each time the case is adjourned, it is like the handbrake is pulled up on our lives.”
Ratcliffe, who is an attorney, also questioned why the matter had been set down for trial given that Van der Merwe had other commitments.
Explaining why she organised the picket outside the court, Ratcliffe said drunk driving was still socially acceptable.
“If someone has five drinks and drives home without problems, then he is a hero. That kind of thinking has to stop. People have to understand that drink and driving can have devastating consequences.”
The case was adjourned to October and Gilmore is out on bail.
kamini.padayachee@inl.co.za
The Mercury
