- Rhys Phillips, 31, is accused of killing Rizieri Ongaro, 77, after skiing into him
A British man has appeared in court accused of killing former mayor by crashing into him during a skiing holiday.
Rhys Phillips, 31, is on trial charged with the manslaughter of Rizieri Ongaro, 77, who died two years ago.
A conviction can carry a five year prison sentence, but the court heard Phillips is unlikely to be sent to jail as he has a clean record and was not drunk or under the influence of drugs and any sentence will be suspended.
Prosecutors say he suffered fatal injuries after Philipps ‘carelessly skied into him at high speed’ while on holiday in Allenge in the Italian Dolomites.
The court in nearby Belluno heard from several eye witnesses including Enrico Lunardi, 37, who was on a chairlift at the time and saw the impact.
Mr Lunardi: ‘It was all very quick and the man who was hit didn’t even have time to move out of the way, he was hit violently and knocked off his feet.
Rhys Phillips, 31, (pictured) faces a possible five-year jail sentence if convicted of the manslaughter of Rizieri Ongaro, 77, who died two years ago
Prosecutors say Mr Ongaro (pictured) suffered fatal injuries after Philipps ‘carelessly skied into him at high speed’ while on holiday in Allenge in the Italian Dolomites
At the time Mr Philipps – who is a keen skier and travel blogger – told police he ‘hadn’t seen’ Mr Ongaro and that he ‘just appeared’ in front of him
‘He was coming down the mountain while the man was facing the valley, downhill, when he was hit at considerable speed.’
The trial was old Mr Ongaro was an expert skier, businessman and mayor of a village close to where the crash happened.
At the time of the incident in March 2022, police were quickly on the scene and identified Philipps and his Danish girlfriend Marie Lardell.
Paramedics were also called and an air ambulance ferried Mr Ongaro to a local hospital, but he died in the helicopter from his injuries.
Mr Ongaro was president of the local ski club and he died just three days before his 78th birthday.
At the time Mr Philipps – who is a keen skier and travel blogger – told police he ‘hadn’t seen’ Mr Ongaro and that he ‘just appeared’ in front of him.
During the hearing, Antonio Prade and Massimo Montino, lawyers representing the family of Mr Ongaro showed images from Philipps social media of the fatal trip.
They said it showed him skiing in a ‘dangerous manner’ with ‘no concern for the safety of others’.
Mr Prade added: ‘You can see the accused’s propensity to take unnecessary risks from the pictures and videos on his ski trip that he posted on social media.’
Mr Philipps, who is originally from Aldershot, but now lives in Copenhagen with his girlfriend, has insisted through his lawyers the incident was an accident.
Speaking to MailOnline, Phillips’ lawyers Ernesto Caracciolo and Aldo Bissi said their client denied any wrongdoing and stressed it was simply a tragic accident.
The map above shows the location of where the fatal skiing crash took place in Allenge in the Italian Dolomites
Mr Ongaro was president of the local ski club and he died just three days before his 78th birthday
Mr Philipps, who is originally from Aldershot, but now lives in Copenhagen with his girlfriend, has insisted through his lawyers the incident was an accident
If convicted Philipps is unlikely to spend any time behind bars as he has a clean record and was not drunk or under the influence of drugs and any sentence will be suspended
‘We could have plea bargained but that would have involved an admission of guilt which would have remained like a stain on him for his life and he doesn’t want that.
‘We have several witnesses who can back up our version of events and we look forward to presenting this in court.’
If convicted Philipps is unlikely to spend any time behind bars as he has a clean record and was not drunk or under the influence of drugs and any sentence will be suspended.
The hearing was adjourned until later this year when Phillips will give evidence.
