The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has found Diondre Samuel liable in negligence for the death of Lashauna Sheleta Bridgen, concluding a landmark dual-track legal case that moved through both criminal and civil courts over four years. According to Antigua News Room, the ruling clears the way for the long-delayed repatriation of Bridgen's body to Jamaica.
The judgment was delivered by Her Ladyship, the Honourable Justice Tunde A. Byer in October 2025 in Claim No. ANUHCV2022/0491. The court determined that Samuel failed to exercise proper care while driving and was responsible for the fatal collision that occurred on January 20, 2022, along Friar's Hill Road in the vicinity of Jasmine Court.
Bridgen, a 29-year-old Jamaican national residing in Antigua, was a mother of two minor children and worked as a security officer at the time of her death. Family representatives confirmed she is scheduled to be repatriated to Jamaica on April 14, 2026, after her body remained in storage for four years pending the outcome of civil legal proceedings.
According to the official police report dated May 17, 2022, Bridgen was struck while crossing Friar's Hill Road after exiting a vehicle near Jasmine Court. Investigators reported that Samuel, of All Saints, was traveling at speed when the collision occurred in vehicle A2982. The impact threw Bridgen more than 100 feet. She sustained multiple injuries and was transported to hospital, where she later died. The report concluded the driver was "at fault and liable to prosecution."
Despite those initial findings, criminal proceedings did not result in a conviction. In June 2025, a jury acquitted Samuel of causing death by dangerous driving, citing insufficient evidence to meet the criminal standard of proof.
The acquittal did not end the matter. Salomon and Simpson Attorneys-at-Law, acting on the instruction of then Honorary Consul for Jamaica Dr. Onika Campbell-Rowe, continued through the civil courts. The estate of Bridgen, represented by Avagay Hervelyn Cummings acting on behalf of her mother Christine Evans and her brother Chafray Chafral Bridgen, pursued a claim in negligence under the Fatal Accidents Act.
The High Court found that Samuel failed in multiple aspects of his duty as a driver, including failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to take evasive action, and failing to exercise reasonable care toward a pedestrian. The court rejected the defense's argument that Bridgen contributed to the accident and held that liability rested solely with the defendant. The claim was granted in full, with damages to be assessed at a later stage.
As a result of the ruling, Samuel's insurer is required to cover funeral-related expenses incurred in Antigua. The judgment also establishes that Samuel remains personally liable for any damages exceeding the limits of his insurance coverage, subject to the court's final assessment. The estate's claim includes special damages, general damages, aggravated damages, interest, and costs.
Court records show the family sought urgent interim relief in December 2022 to secure funding for storage, repatriation, and burial expenses. That application was denied at first instance. An appeal was subsequently filed, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the matter in May 2023, affirming the earlier decision and making no order as to costs.
Documents in the case reflect sustained legal and consular efforts to advance the matter amid procedural and administrative delays. Salomon and Simpson Attorneys-at-Law played a central role in initiating and maintaining civil proceedings, engaging insurers, and pursuing documentation necessary for both litigation and repatriation. Correspondence shows repeated formal requests for key materials, including police and coroner reports.
Dr. Campbell-Rowe intervened at a consular level to facilitate engagement with authorities and expedite access to critical documentation. A formal request submitted to then Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney in May 2022 highlighted delays in obtaining investigative records. A formal representation was also made to then Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Armstrong, outlining procedural setbacks and emphasising the urgency imposed by the statutory limitation period governing fatal accident claims.
For four years, the prolonged storage of Bridgen's body drew mounting public concern. Behind the scenes, ongoing court proceedings and legal negotiations continued steadily, as attorneys navigated both legal complexities and administrative requirements to bring the matter toward resolution. The delay in burial, linked to unresolved legal, administrative, and financial matters, left the family unable to complete final rites.
While the criminal court found insufficient evidence to convict, the civil court — applying the lower standard of proof — determined that Samuel was legally responsible for the collision. The matter now proceeds to the assessment of damages phase, where the court will determine the full extent of compensation owed to the estate and dependents.
Chafray Chafral Bridgen, brother of the deceased and co-representative of the estate, said the family is now breathing a sigh of relief after years of emotional strain and legal uncertainty.
"We are finally at a place where the family can breathe a sigh of relief. This process has not been easy — it has been emotionally draining for all of us. For four years, we carried the weight of not being able to lay our loved one to rest, while dealing with delays, pressure, and the tr[ial]," he said.
The outcome reflects the combined efforts of legal counsel, consular support, and institutional engagement over an extended period. With repatriation now scheduled, the family prepares to lay Lashauna Bridgen to rest — a moment that, after four years, signals both legal resolution and the beginning of personal closure.
