Pair in two-year prison threat

Apr 10 2008 By James Cartledge

A COUPLE accused of the hit-and-run death of a Spanish teenager could be held in jail for up to two years before facing trial, it emerged today.

David Walter Cook, from Stourbridge, and his common-law wife, Angela Green, are behind bars after being arrested over the death of 17-year-old Jose Caro Antonio Buendia.

The teenager, who was riding a moped, was reportedly dragged for more than a mile beneath a car allegedly driven by the couple near Benidorm on the Costa Blanca.

The most serious charge reportedly facing them is an allegation of imprudent homicide, although Mr Cook has told his family he believed they had hit a speed hump or a dog.

The charge is likely to require extensive forensic tests to decide whether they were responsible for Jose's death on March 21.

Mr Cook, aged 57, and Ms Green have already appeared in court but turned down the chance to give their version of events.

Under Spanish law, they could be held for up to two years before facing a trial and are currently inmates at the tough Fontcalent prison in Alicante.

The jail has a higher than average level of foreign prisoners, according to a report compiled two years ago.

In January 2006, it was reported that almost half the jail's 960 inmates were foreigners representing 50 nationalities. Spain's national average for foreign prisoners was put at 28 per cent.

The couple, who used to live at Defford, Worcester, moved to Spain after selling their car repair business around four years ago.

They were arrested on March 24 in connection with Jose's death at La Nucia, near their home in the village of Polop.

Mr Cook's father, Percy, from Kidderminster Road, Stourbridge, is supporting them by contributing towards their legal expenses.

The 78-year-old widower told the Birmingham Mail yesterday: "It's one of my own sons, it makes me feel ashamed.

"I can't understand David's sense in not stopping."