Two men in court after 89-year-old man killed in Gillingham hit-and-run | UK News

Two men have appeared in court charged over the death of an 89-year-old man described by his family as a “respected and loved member of the community”, who died in a hit-and-run car crash.

Retired dental surgeon Tom Wallace was struck by a grey Mercedes estate on the A289 Gads Hill, in Gillingham, on Monday, Kent Police said.

Detectives said Mr Wallace “had been carried by the car” and was found on the ground at Grange Road, almost a mile from where he was believed to have been hit.

Albert Matraxhiu, 28, of Orange Hill Road, Edgware, north London, has been charged with death by dangerous driving, and Erald Paci, 29, of Five Ways Court, Chatham, has been charged with intention to pervert the course of justice.

Matraxhiu has also been charged with intention to pervert the course of justice, driving with no insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, failure to stop after an accident, and failure to report an accident.

After appearing at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday, both men have been remanded to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on 30 January.

In a statement issued through Kent Police, Mr Wallace’s family said he “deserved a better end to his life than this”.

They said: “He had been married for 63 years, was a father of three, a grandfather of four, and recently a great grandfather.

“He sailed his boat up and down the east coast, and across the Channel to France, usually single-handed. He was a bell-ringer at the church on Gillingham Green. He was a Samaritan for many years, raised money for the NSPCC and undertook several European cycling tours to raise funds for Marie Curie.

“The residents and postman who tried to help in Grange Road were compassionate and kind. Our thanks and appreciation go out to them.”

Kent Police has further confirmed that, during the course of inquiries into the fatal crash, officers attended an address in Dartford which was found to contain a cannabis cultivation, with a man arrested at the scene.

Ronalt Kamami, 28, of Dale Street, Chatham, was later charged with production of cannabis and appeared in court on Wednesday.

He has been remanded in custody until his next appearance at Maidstone Crown Court on 26 January, the force said.