Three years on, driver admits car killing

An Auckland man who faced two murder trials that ended in hung juries has pleaded guilty to manslaughter almost three years after he drove into a young father and dragged his dead body under his car for 2.4km.

Two High Court trials, in December 2007 and last November, ended when jurors were unable to decide if Prestman Vesiputa Tauira, 27, was guilty of murdering Faafetai Lafolua, 24, in Otahuhu in August 2006.

Mr Lafolua, who has three young children, was in a fight at a vigil where a shrine had been erected for a man shot in a gang conflict, when Tauira drove his car into the crowd.

Mr Lafolua was killed instantly. Tauira admitted driving the car into the crowd, but said he was trying to break up the fight and didn't know Mr Lafolua was being dragged underneath the vehicle.

The Crown said he either intended to kill someone or should have known that was the likely outcome.

Tauira's lawyer, Richard Earwaker, told the Weekend Herald his client always accepted responsibility for what happened.

"At the end of the day he accepts responsibility but he didn't mean to cause the death," he said.

Mr Earwaker said Tauira was relieved and was prepared to accept the manslaughter charge but could not have admitted to murder.

The court process had been difficult for him and his family, he said.

If two murder trials end in hung juries, the Crown must apply to the Solicitor General for a third attempt. In Tauira's case the Solicitor General said a third trial could be held but manslaughter was the appropriate charge.

The officer in charge of the case, Detective Sergeant Brett Shields of Counties Manukau police, couldn't be contacted yesterday but told the Herald at the end of the second trial the evidence had been presented in a way the Crown hoped was easy for the jury to understand. He said then he didn't know what more could be done before any possible third trial.

Tauira has been remanded on bail until next month, when a sentencing date will be set.