The truck driver, who is accused of killing Davide Rebellin, had his request for a plea deal rejected and the date of first hearing has been set

The latest development in the hearings of Wolgang Rieke, the truck driver accused of hitting and killing Davide Rebellin, has seen the presiding judge reject his request for a plea deal.

Rieke's lawyer had proposed a two-year, 11-month plea deal for the 63-year-old truck driver, a petition which was revised on Wednesday to a length of three years and 11 months.

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However, the judge at the Vicenza court, Dr Roberto Venditti, has rejected the petition, considering the sentence too light in view of Rieke's behaviour, La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported.

The first hearing in the trial has been set for April 22, 2024. Until then, he will remain in Vicenza prison, where he has been held since August. "We are satisfied with this rejection and we thank the judiciary again for the work they have done and the attention they have paid to Davide's case," Rebellin's brother Carlo said, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.