Driver accused of killing comedian’s son to face retrial
TRAGIC CYCLIST WAS CHILD OF FRANK SIDEBOTTOM CREATOR
A MAN accused of killing the son of Frank Sidebottom creator Chris Sievey will go on trial for a second time.
Vithal Visavadiya, 63, denies causing the death of 25-year-old musician Harry Sievey by careless driving in February last year.
A jury in a trial held at Manchester Crown Court last month failed to reach a verdict and was discharged.
Prosecutors have now formally confirmed there will be a retrial.
A date of February 25, 2019, has been pencilled in.
At a brief hearing at the same court yesterday, prosecutor Justin Hayhoe said: “The Crown will be seeking a retrial in this case.”
Mr Visavadiya, of Clunton Avenue, Bolton, was in court for the hearing.
He was released on bail until the prospective trial date.
The first trial heard how Mr Sievey had been out for a drink with a friend in Withington on February 12, 2017.
Mr Visavadiya had been out for a Valentine’s meal with his wife and was driving home when a collision happened at about 10.15pm on Mauldeth Road West.
Mr Sievey had drunk three pints of lager and taken half a ‘Xanax’ pill, the court heard.
He was on his bike when he crashed, falling into the road.
The friend he was with, who was also on a bike, went to his aid and witnesses told how they saw a blue Vauxhall Corsa approaching them as Mr Sievey remained on the ground.
The court heard passersby and other drivers attempted to alert Mr Visavadiya to their presence but the car continued.
Mr Visavadiya said in evidence he was driving carefully but his vision was affected by the flashing headlights of motorists attempting to warn him of the two friends in the road.
Mr Sievey died later in hospital. Tributes to him poured in after his death, with friends describing him as a ‘beautiful creative ball of energy.’
His father Chris Sievey, famous for performing as papier mache-headed cult comic Frank Sidebottom, died in June 2010, at the age of 54. He had been recovering from treatment to a tumour on his chest when he collapsed at his home in Hale.
A bronze statue of Frank now stands in Timperley village, Altrincham.