An Oamaru police constable has been fined after admitting a charge of careless driving.
Gary Tuhuru Mahuika, 39, previously denied the charge, which went to a defended hearing before Judge Alistair Garland in Oamaru District Court yesterday.
The plea change came after Judge Garland requested to speak to the defendant and prosecutor in chambers, about two hours after the hearing started, and during the evidence of the second of five prosecution witnesses.
While cross-examining witnesses, Mahuika indicated the reason his vehicle had left the road and crashed into a tree in May last year was that he was "full-beamed" on a bend by a four-wheel drive vehicle. He contended the vehicle was on an old railway track running parallel to the road, which the prosecution did not accept.
Mahuika was fined $350.
