Executive Phillip Rasmussen, a British father-of-three, died on the holiday island of Menorca
A 25-year-old American has walked free from court after killing a British father-of-three in Menorca while drink driving.
Bryan Leeds, 25, was handed a one-year suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter of Phillip Rasmussen, a British father-of-three.
Mr Leeds admitted to knocking technology boss Mr Rasmussen off his bike on the holiday island of Menorca.
New York-born Mr Leeds will now be able to leave Menorca after his plea bargain deal at a speedy trial in the island capital Mahon on Thursday.
He was bailed after his arrest over Mr Rasmussen’s death on April 1 but banned from returning to the States.
Holidaymaker Mr Leeds, who was at the wheel of a rented Opel Corsa, failed a roadside breath test after hitting Mr Rasmussen, 47, from behind.
American Mr Leeds’ breathalyser test gave a result of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. It is the current legal limit in England and Wales but in Spain the standard limit is 25.
He also failed a drugs test – but was able to show he had a medical receipt for amphetamine tablets found on him as part of treatment for an unidentified health condition.
The amount of compensation Mr Rasmussen’s family will now receive will be negotiated out of court between their lawyer and the driver’s insurance firm.
The Brit, from Cardigan in in south west Wales, was chief financial officer at Cardiff-based technology company IQE that makes components for Apple’s iPhones.
He qualified as an accountant with Coopers and Lybrand, a predecessor firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
He became Director of Transaction Services with PwC in Bristol before joining IQE and was appointed to its board of directors in March 2007.
Mr Rasmussen was cycling from the sleeping fishing village of Alcaufar to Sant Lluis near his holiday home when he was struck, around 11am on April 1.
Two ambulances were sent to the scene but paramedics could do nothing to save him.
Mr Rasmussen has three children aged between 15 and 21
Mr Leeds, who was due to fly back to the US the day he killed Mr Rasmussen after a short holiday on the island with friends, spent a night in a police cell after the accident.
He was released on €10,000 (£8,670) bail after his court appearance the following day.
He was alone in his rental car when he hit Mr Rasmussen, father to three children aged between 15 and 21. The victim was also cycling alone.
A Foreign Office spokesman said after the tragedy a fortnight ago: ‘We have offered bereavement advice to the family following the death of a British man in Menorca.’
IQE President and CEO Drew Nelson said in a statement: ‘The news of Phil’s death has shocked and distressed all of us at IQE.
‘The tragedy, of course, will be most deeply felt by Phil’s family, who we send our heartfelt condolences to at this terrible time.
‘It is also a tragedy for so many of us who considered Phil a friend as much as a colleague.
‘Phil was a great colleague and an accomplished CFO. He made the role his own, contributing so much over his ten years with us to IQE’s current strength; to the detailed and principled way we do things; to the potential we see before us as a firm.
The Brit was cycling from Alcaufar (pictured) to San Lluis on Menorca’s east coast
‘It has been my great privilege to work with Phil, to benefit from his good judgement and to count him as a very close friend.
‘We will do everything we possibly can to preserve his legacy at IQE and continue with the shining example he has set for all of us.’
Under Spanish law manslaughter is punishable by a prison sentence of one to four years.
Jail sentences of two years or less are normally suspended for first-time offenders.