Just a year and a day after a road crash in which his best friend was killed, Selwyn Llewellyn Berkeley has denied causing Ashanti Smith's death by dangerous driving.

Berkeley, 26, of Hillsdale Estate, Smith's Parish, limped into the Supreme Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Mr. Smith.

Berkeley also denied two counts of causing actual bodily harm by dangerous driving to Vivian Smatt and her nine-year-old son Alexander who were in another vehicle.

He was one of 16 people to appear before Chief Justice Austin Ward yesterday in a busy monthly arraignments hearing that saw ten lawyers observing the proceedings in the Supreme Court.

Mr. Smith, a father of one and step-father of two children, was killed in a head on collision on May 2, 1998 on North Shore Road, Devonshire, when Berkeley's car collided with a van.

Mr. Justice Ward set the case down for mention on May 17. Berkeley's $1,000 bail was extended.