Post by Dave R on Jan 22, 2009 17:37:16 GMT
Thursday, January 22, 2009, 07:30
A man accused of causing the deaths of two bikers in a Lincolnshire road crash has been refused a visa to enter Britain from Pakistan to face justice.
Syed Raza was due to stand trial in July last year but 10 days before the case was due to begin it was revealed he had not returned from Pakistan after visiting his sick mother.
The Echo has now learned of Lincolnshire Chief Crown Prosecutor Jaswant Narwal's concerns that the CPS, the police and the courts did not appear to fully consider the issue of seizing Raza's passport when granting and renewing unconditional bail.
The 27-year-old's student visa has since expired and his application for a new visa failed because he does not have the £2,800 needed to support himself once in Britain.
This is despite Lincolnshire Police saying they are willing to foot the bill to bring him back to face the courts.The case is due to be reviewed on February 19 and a trial may subsequently be heard in his absence if the court is satisfied Raza, formerly of Newland Street West, Lincoln, voluntarily absented himself from proceedings.
Raza denies two counts of causing death by dangerous driving after Michael Rowley (41) and his son Jonathan (14), from Rotherham, were killed in a crash in Gainsborough in April 2007.
Their Honda ST1100 was involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Corsa at the junction of Thorndike Way and Corringham Road.
Lincolnshire CPS could initiate proceedings to extradite him to Britain and spokesman Darren Burrows said every effort was being made to progress the case.
