Tawa woman pleads guilty to careless driving causing death of community figure Aporo Joyce

Aporo Joyce, pictured here in 2006, died after being run over by a car driven by Alison Ngaire Cooper on June 21. She pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death today. Photo / Porirua City News

An elderly woman has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a Porirua man at a pedestrian crossing earlier this year.

Alison Ngaire Cooper, 76, was driving on Main Rd, Tawa on June 21 when she hit and killed Aporo Joyce, a former policeman and community advocate.

Cooper appeared in the Porirua District Court this morning where she pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death.

Joyce, 79, was walking along a pedestrian crossing on Main Rd near the Junction with Essex Rd just before 6pm when Cooper hit him with the front of her car, throwing him on to the road and running over him, police prosecutor Mike Craig said.

The car came to a stop with Joyce underneath it.

He had serious injuries and died at the scene.

"In explanation the defendant stated that she didn't see the victim, he just stepped out."

Cooper has no previous convictions. Judge James Johnston convicted her and remanded her at large until December 19 for sentencing.

He ordered that Restorative Justice be looked into.