Accused absent from crash trial

Angela Phillips' son and former husband died in the crash

The trial of a Pakistani student accused of causing two deaths in a road crash is going ahead despite his failure to return to the UK.

Syed Raza, 27, will be absent from the trial at Lincoln Crown Court as he is in Pakistan, jury members were told as they were sworn in on Monday.

He was allowed to fly out to his sick mother while on bail, but failed to return.

He denies two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Mr Raza is accused of causing the deaths of Michael Rowley, 41, and his 14-year-old son Jonathan in April 2007.

The pair from Rotherham, South Yorkshire died when Mr Raza's car and their motorbike collided on the A631 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

Mr Raza's visa expired while he was in Pakistan and the UK Border Agency prevented his return to face trial on several occasions.

A judge ordered the agency to allow his return and Lincolnshire Police paid £516 for his flight but Mr Raza failed to board the plane.