A TRUCK driver allegedly linked to a cold case child sexual assault at Cardiff after he was jailed for causing a fatal crash fears being deported and wants to know what his current immigration status is before making an application for bail, Newcastle District Court has heard.
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David James Price, now 58, of Butterwick, will be eligible for release on parole on Saturday after serving a minimum 15 months in jail for causing the crash that killed 30-year-old Ellalong man Daniel Milne on the New England Highway at Beresfield on May 10, 2016.
However, after being taken into custody to begin serving his sentence in May, 2018, Mr Price underwent a routine DNA swab that detectives allege led to a breakthrough in the random sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy, who was attacked by a stranger in a public toilet block at Cardiff in 2006.
Mr Price was later charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault on a victim under the age of 16 and aggravated indecent assault on a victim under the age of 16.
He has remained bail refused on those 2006 charges because he was serving a jail term, but with his parole date fast approaching Mr Price's solicitor, Gillian Jewison, plans to launch a bail application in Newcastle District Court.
But Ms Jewison told Judge Roy Ellis on Monday that "an issue had arisen with Mr Price's immigration status".
"[Mr Price] came to Australia in 1962 as a Ten Pound Pom," Ms Jewison said. "I've made some inquires into his current immigration status, but those inquiries have hit a brick wall."
Ms Jewison said perhaps the DPP would have more luck determining whether or not the immigration department intended to deport Mr Price at the conclusion of his parole period on Saturday.
"He needs to know what the likely outcome is going to be in relation to his immigration status if he was going to go for bail," Ms Jewison said.
The bail application was adjourned until Tuesday to ascertain Mr Price's current immigration status.
In 2014, the government introduced mandatory visa cancellations for non-citizens who commit a crime and are jailed for 12 months or more, leading to a spike in deportations.
An issue has arisen in relation to Mr Price's immigration status. He came to Australia in 1962 as a Ten Pound Pom.
- Solicitor Gillian Jewison said.
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