Olympian charged with manslaughter

A Briton has been killed in a road accident involving an Olympic competitor.

Nicklas Holm, a member of the Danish sailing team, was today in court on manslaughter charges after the accident which killed Errol Strachan last night.

Mr Strachan, a Scot living in London, was working for a catering company in Greece.

The crash was on one of Athens's most notorious stretches of dual carriageway, Possidonos Avenue. Mr Strachan is thought to have been crossing the road.

Today his roommate Paul Anthony Wright, 35, said: "It was horrible. I am packing my bags right now and leaving for England."

The Home Office said Mr Strachan's wife, who stayed in Britain, had been informed.

Holm, 23, was driving in a lane reserved for athletes and officials. He appeared in court on preliminary charges of manslaughter and speeding.

He was bailed and will be allowed to continue competing.

On Danish television, the sailor insisted he had been driving at only about 31mph. "I feel no guilt," he said.

The Danish team is still to decide if Holm will compete in the two-man Star class. He is seen as a serious prospect for a medal and was named Danish sailor of the year two years ago.

The son of a multi-millionaire was driving a four-wheel-drive Volvo. He passed a blood test for alcohol.

Possidonos Avenue is the same road where Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris says he crashed his motorcycle last Thursday after missing a drugs test.