A TRIAL date has been set for a Riverina man accused of causing the death of his passenger in a crash near Tamworth.
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Csaba Somogyi was committed to stand trial later this year in Tamworth District Court, after formally denying the allegation against him at an arraignment hearing.
On March 5, last year, in Boonoo, near Manilla, he's accused of driving a Volkswagen Golf in manner that was dangerous and caused the impact which resulted in the death of his male passenger.
"Not guilty," Somogyi replied, when asked how he would plead to the allegation.
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Somogyi's solicitor Matthew Lorkin said a barrister had been briefed in the trial.
"He's said seven days, a minimum of seven days," Mr Lorkin told the court.
"We're going to need an expert report."
The court heard the defence would gather a traffic engineer's report but the engineers "are difficult to engage", and the report would be served on the Crown prior to the trial.
Judge Deborah Payne set the case down for a seven day trial in the four-week October sittings, later this year.
"Bail to continue," Judge Payne said.
Somogyi was behind the wheel of the Volkswagon Golf in the deadly crash on March 5, 2020, on Banoon Road at Banoon, near Borah Creek, just out of Manilla.
Police allege he lost control of the hatchback just after 1pm, and rolled several times before crashing into a tree.
Somogyi was treated for multiple injuries, while his passenger, a 49-year-old man, died at the scene, about 80km from Tamworth.
The pair were competing in the Riverina Redneck Rally and were en route from Warialda to Nundle on the day in question.
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