Tomic Case In Spain Is Fading

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 19th November 2013

BNP Paribas 2013 Masters Tennis Tournament

Tomic Case In Spain Is Fading

epa03927887 Bernard Tomic of Australia returns the ball to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their first round match at the BNP Paribas 2013 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 28 October 2013. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

Australia’s Bernard Tomic looks like being spared a further appearance in a Spanish court after his father John has decided against appealing against the eight month suspended jail sentence handed to him after he was found guilty of assaulting former practice partner Thomas Drouet in Madrid six months ago.

Tomic was set to be a key witness for the appeal of his father and coach Ivica ‘John’ Tomic, based on the insistence Drouet’s injuries resulted from a scuffle the Frenchman instigated.

Under Spanish law, an accused has to hear the sentence in person and then has five days from that moment to launch an appeal. Tomic, who was not in Spain for his sentence, has made no attempt to hear the sentence personally in a law court either in Spain or elsewhere.

Now it transpires the Spanish Juzgado de la Penal Court has confirmed it has never heard back from Tomic Snr.

“They are trying to notify the resolution to Mr. Tomic in person, as is the law here but it is a little complicated because Mr. Tomic does not live in Spain,” a legal spokesman said.

“They must do this before any appeal can be had and they can do that through a French court or court in Monaco or wherever he lives. He and his lawyer obviously know the outcome, (sentence) but has not indicated any appeal. If he had intended to appeal he would have done these things already.”

Tomic Jr. was called as a witness by his father’s defence team and after he too apparently indicated at the time to police there had been a head-butt, but he told the court the officers’ grasp of English was poor and they may have misunderstood him.

In a private action Drouet is currently suing Tomic Sr. for damages, for a broken nose and bruised vertebrae and loss of earnings from both his tennis training and part-time modelling career.

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Bernard Tomic, John Tomic, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Thomas Drouet