Bendigo crime: Emerson Julian faces lesser charges over Orazio Longano’s death

An apprentice tradie accused of killing a much-loved Bendigo restaurant owner is facing a lesser charge after new details emerged over the horror collision.

Orazio 'Fred' Longano died in hospital on January 6, 2020, 25 days after being struck by a green Kawasaki motorbike on Wood St, Long Gully, on December 12, 2019.

A much-loved Bendigo restaurant owner died as a result of a medical episode not an accident with a local motorbike rider, a court has heard.

Emerson Julian, 20, had been accused of killing Orazio ‘Fred’ Longano after colliding with the 77-year-old pedestrian in December 2019.

But on Monday, Julian pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of dangerous driving causing serious injury in the Bendigo County Court.

Medical records presented to the court said Mr Longano died in January last year as a result of a perforated bladder.

The court heard Mr Longano was taken to a Melbourne hospital after Julian collided with him while he was crossing Wood St in Long Gully.

He suffered fractures to his spine and pelvis.

Julian, an apprentice carpenter, told police he had been travelling about 60km/h in the 50 zone at the accident.

Some witnesses told authorities that Julian was travelling at 80km/h but expert evidence suggested he would have been going between 45km/h and 55km/h.

Julian’s defence lawyer described his client’s actions as a “bad judgement call”.

The court heard Julian had no prior convictions before the incident.

Judge Mark Dean said Julian’s case was “extremely difficult” to sentence but ordered he be assessed for a community corrections order.

Julian will be sentenced next week.

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