A VISITING Spanish academic has been given the green light to return to his homeland despite facing charges over an accident which killed a Fishermans Paradise couple.
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Julian Pardo Jimeno arrived in Australia on a temporary visa just days before the horrific crash at East Lynne on January 16.
Ken Ashman, 52, and Christine Cluss, 53, were killed when their motorcycle and a Holden Commodore station wagon, driven by Dr Pardo Jimeno, collided on the Princes Highway.
Dr Pardo Jimeno, 34, faces two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and one of negligent driving.
Solicitor Kelly Irvine applied to Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday for a change to Dr Pardo Jimeno’s bail conditions.
She asked that her client be allowed to return to his wife and 14-month-old child in Zaragoza, Spain.
“He would be prepared to put up $30,000 as surety,” she said.
Dr Pardo Jimeno had been working as a fellow in medical research for the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, the court heard.
He has an organic chemistry degree, a Master of Science in biochemistry, a biochemistry diploma and a PhD, according to the curriculum vitae tendered to court.
The Prosecution Depart-ment’s Robert Taylor described the defendant as a person of “impeccable character” but opposed his application.
“The prosecution opposes on the basis that if he is allowed to leave he may not return to the jurisdiction to face trial,” Dr Taylor said.
Dr Taylor did not consider $30,000 was significant enough bond to bring Dr Pardo Jimeno back to Australia for trial.
However, Magistrate Chris Bone said the defendant was of “extremely good character” and had no previous criminal or traffic convictions in either Spain or Australia.
“This is a matter of real concern,” he said.
“He is a doctor of philosophy and ... he would lose both his scientific and social reputation if he were to skip bail.”
Dr Bone adjourned the case to April 1, indicating that at that time he would agree to the bail change.
“He will have to be here for the committal hearing ... I will change the bail (on April 1) unless the DPP indicates that they intend to appeal,” he said.
“At this stage we don’t have a plea.”
Dr Bone said Dr Pardo Jimeno’s passport would be withheld until he lodged $30,000.
