Matthias Ungemach: Another delay in case against man charged with road death of Tony Plati

An Olympian charged over the alleged hit and run death of a man on Sydney’s northern beaches has appeared in Manly Local Court.

Matthias Ungemach, 52, of Curl Curl, has been charged with the alleged hit and run incident which resulted in the death of Tony Plati from Freshwater. Picture: Facebook

The court case against a man charged over the alleged hit and run death of Antonio “Tony” Plati on the northern beaches has been delayed — again — despite a warning from a magistrate of “no more adjournments”.

Matthias Ungemach, the former German Olympic and world champion rower, was told on Thursday in Manly Local Court that police still were gathering material for a brief of evidence.

Matthias Ungemach outside Manly Court House earlier this year. Picture: Manly Daily

When Mr Ungemach, 52, last appeared in court on October 22, he was told that police were waiting on the results of forensic and biomechanical tests and needed a six week adjournment.

On that day Magistrate Sharon Freund allowed the adjournment, to December 3, but told the police prosecutor: “No more adjournments”.

But on Thursday the court heard that investigators were waiting on one more report and police asked for another six week adjournment.

Matthias Ungemach at Mosman Rowing Club. Picture YouTube

Magistrate Michelle Goodwin refused that request and adjourned the matter to December 10.

Mr Ungemach, from Curl Curl, was arrested in July, five months after Mr Plati, 66, was found unconscious and critically injured in the middle of Oliver St at Freshwater He died soon after in Royal North Shore Hospital.

Mr Plati, a retired greengrocer, had been out for an early morning walk to the beach on February 22.

Mr Ungemach, the head rowing coach at Mosman Rowing Club, is charged with one count of each of dangerous driving causing death; fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death and; negligent driving occasioning death.

Anthony “Tony” Plati. Picture: Supplied

He is yet to enter a formal plea.

In the days after Mr Plati’s death police formed Strike Force Clarefield to investigate the incident and released CCTV footage of a large 4WD towing a long trailer carrying rowing boats along Oliver St at around the time Mr Plati was allegedly injured.

Police will allege in court that Mr Ungemach was driving the 4WD and that it, or the trailer, struck Mr Plati and that the driver failed to stop and help.