German man unlikely to enter witness box in road death case

A German man charged over the road death of a 59-year-old Huon Valley man was due to fight the allegation in court, but the case has now been delayed. LATEST >>

A GERMAN tourist who denies causing the death of a Huon Valley man by negligent driving in his Fiat motorhome will now fight his case at a November court hearing.

Friedrich Kurt Burkhardt, 66, was due to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday to contest the singular charge at a hearing following the fatal Dover crash on January 27.

However, the matter was instead listed as a court mention, during which new dates were locked in for November 26 and 27.

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Mr Burkhardt, who is currently on bail, was not present during the hearing.

Magistrate Reg Marron was told the November hearing would likely include evidence from at least nine witnesses, but Mr Burkhardt was unlikely to enter the witness box.

The crash on Huon Highway resulted in the death of a 59-year-old man when his Toyota Aurion and Mr Burkhardt’s vehicle collided head-on, the Mercury previously reported.

The matter will return to court on September 18 for further mention before the November hearing.