A POOLE pilot charged with the manslaughter of a former Royal Marine in a plane crash has appeared in court.
Scott Hoyle, 47, spoke only to confirm his personal details during a two-minute hearing before Bournemouth magistrates this morning.
Hoyle of Charborough Road, Broadstone, is alleged to have committed the offence on May 15 2011.
He was flying a vintage de Havilland Tiger Moth when it crashed into a field near Witchampton, causing fatal injuries to passenger Orlando Rogers, 26.
Hoyle was cut free from the wreckage and taken to hospital and Mr Rogers, a veteran of tours in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland, died of his injuries.
Mr Rogers, from Poole, starred in two ITV documentaries which featured him on tour as a troop commander and also during a trans-atlantic row.
Tributes poured in, describing him as a “charismatic action man” and “immensely special.”
Hoyle was granted unconditional bail and will appear at Winchester Crown Court on Friday for a preliminary hearing.
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