A British couple in their fifties were remanded in jail by a judge in Benidorm yesterday charged with imprudent homicide.

They were arrested last Monday after being spotted dragging a badly-injured motorcyclist they had knocked down after a previous accident by licence plate recognition cameras on the outskirts of La Nucia (Aliante).

During yesterday's hearing, the man, who was driving, broke down and admitted being aware not only that he had hit something or someone and that, following the impact, he was aware that something or someone had got stuck under his vehicle.

In his defence, the man claimed that he thought he had hit a stray dog and said that he failed to stop and investigate because he suffered a panic attack.

The degree of responsibility that should be attributed to the man's wife, who also admits being aware of the impact, remains to be determined.

The accident occurred last Friday night on the CV-763 (km 3,4). The couple were driving back to their home on the San Rafael residential estate while the young motorcyclist was heading towards Alfàs del Pi.

The victim, who was still alive as he was dragged for 2-3km underneath the British couple's car, died before emergency medics could get him into the ambulance.

His family and friends, who say the boy's parents are "totally destroyed and unable to come to terms with what has happened," have organised a march from Alfàs del Pi Town Hall to the scene of the accident starting at midday tomorrow (Saturday).

British couple detained after fatal traffic incident
By: thinkSPAIN
Wednesday, March 26, 2008

A British couple in their fifties are being held separately in Guardia Civil barracks in Alicante and El Campello following their arrest last Monday. They are accused of running over a 17 year old motorcyclist who had been involved in an earlier accident then dragging his body under their vehicle for two kilometres as they made their way back to their home on the San Rafael residential estate in La Nucía (Alicante) last Friday night.

Acting La Nucía mayor Pedro Lloret explained yesterday that police officers were able to follow "a macabre bloody trail" that ultimately led them to the fatally injured youngster, who had been on his way to Alfàs del Pi. He died at the scene shortly afterwards.

The arrested couple were identified after their car registration number was picked out by licence plate recognition cameras recently installed by the council on a roundabout on the outskirts of La Nucia which they crossed on their way home.