A 34-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Jackson Joseph Paul, of Palace Road, Douglas appeared before the deputy high bailiff on Tuesday morning to answer the charge in relation to the death of Jordan Thomas.

The offence is alleged to have been committed on February 25 in an area of Onchan while Mr Paul was driving a BMW.

Mr Thomas, 29, was left critically injured during an incident, which happened at around 7.45pm in the village’s Harbour Road.

During a previous hearing, Prosecutor Hazel Carroon told the court that the incident related to a collision which left Mr Thomas with a bleed on the brain.

He was later flown via an air ambulance to the Walton Hospital, Liverpool for medical treatment.

The following week, police issued a statement confirming that Mr Thomas had died in hospital.

In that statement, the Isle of Man Constabulary’s Temporary Chief Inspector Neil Craig said: ‘Enquiries into this investigation are continuing and we thank the public for their assistance.

‘My sincere condolences are with family and friends of Mr Thomas at this difficult time.

‘I would ask the privacy of all is respected at this time.’

Harbour Road was shut for around 12-hours overnight by emergency services following the incident and reopened on the morning of Monday, February 26.

We previously reported that defendant Mr Paul had appeared in court charged with causing serious bodily harm by dangerous driving.

However, on Tuesday, that charge was replaced with one of causing death by dangerous driving. He will now be committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery on April 23, where a jury trial will take place on a future date.

Mr Paul was represented in court by advocate Stephen Wood.

Bail has been granted, with a condition not to drive.

As part of the police investigation into the incident, the force previously issued an appeal for any witnesses who were in the area of Harbour Road, Onchan on Sunday February 25 between 7pm and 8pm to come forward.

Officers said they were particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels that they may have any information which may assist the force but who have yet to speak to police.