Two-time world champion ice skater Maxim Staviski will have to serve his two-and-a-half year sentence in jail, the Bourgas Appellative Court has ruled, Bulgarian news agency Focus said on January 5 2009.

Staviski was given a suspended sentence of two years and six months, with five years' probation, for causing the death of a young man, Petar Petrov, and severe injuries to a 19-year-old girl, Mihaela Gorsova, who went into a coma after the incident.

On October 27 2008 the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) ordered that the court case against Staviski be returned for re-trial. The SCC found that there were irregularities in the way the case had been conducted and Staviski should face a more severe sentence.

On August 5 2007, Staviski crashed his Hummer vehicle into another vehicle along the Black Sea coast on the road between Bourgas and Sozopol. The court found him guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol, something which he had denied.

He was also ordered to pay 90 000 leva in non-material damages and 4815 leva in material damages to the parents of the man who died, Petar Petrov.

Now the Bourgas Appellative Court ruled that he should pay not 90 000 leva but 120 000 leva non-material damages.

Following the BAC ruling Staviksi's lawyer, Rosen Kozhouharov, told Focus he was disappointed with the ruling and would appeal.

On December 1 2008 Staviski said he wished to remain free to continue working to make financial amends for the damage he has caused. He once again expressed his remorse and said he expected a fair court ruling.

His lawyers presented the court with bank orders stating that Staviski had paid a total of 210 000 leva for the treatment of Manuela Gorsova, who is currently being treated in a hospital in Israel, as well as to Petrov's parents.

In December 2008 Staviski came to Bulgaria from Russia where he had professional engagements in a popular TV ice skating show.