A driver suspected of being involved in a road accident that killed a student in Southampton has been flown from his home in Poland to face charges.

ThisisHampshire.net reports that 22-year-old Lukasz Banasik was arrested in Poland after a two-year police investigation into the death of Gavin Hustler-Brown, also 22, who came from Yorkshire.

Mr Hustler-Brown was studying criminology as a first-year undergraduate at the University of Southampton and was also a promising ‘international-standard’ diver.

He was killed when a blue Vauxhall Astra hit him as he walked near the Hobbit Pub in Portswood in April 2007. The car was found abandoned in a road nearby.

Officers from the Roads Policing Unit conducted the investigation into his death – the suspected driver of the car, Lukasz Banasik, was flown from his native Poland to RAF Biggin Hill in Kent on Tuesday (27/10/09). He was arrested by police officers from the Hampshire Constabulary on arrival and driven to Eastleigh police station.

Mr Banasik appeared before Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning, charged with an array offences, including causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after a road traffic accident, failing to report a road traffic accident, driving without insurance – and driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He spoke only to confirm his identity and was remanded in custody. Mr Banasik will appear again before Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 22 December for a plea and case management hearing, a police spokeswoman said.

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