A man accused of causing the death of an unborn baby and injuring the pregnant mother when he allegedly drove recklessly and under the influence of methamphetamine, is hoping to keep his name secret.
The pregnant woman — a passenger in a sedan driven by the accused — was reportedas being critically injured when the vehicle collided head-on with a ute on State Highway 35 near Oneroa Road, Wainui, mid-morning on April 27 this year. Three other people, including the sole occupant of the ute, are said to have suffered comparatively minor injuries. The highway was closed for about an hour while the crash scene was cleared.
The accused driver, who is in his early 20s, was charged after a serious crash inquiry. He made his first appearance on the charges in Gisborne District Court on Monday, a registrar granting him interim name suppression.
However, the man signalled he hoped to keep his name secret so was scheduled to make a formal application for continued name suppression, in front of a judge next week.
Counsel Alexandra Dawick intimated not guilty pleas to three charges arising out of the collision — driving recklessly causing death, driving recklessly causing injury, and driving while under the influence of a drug. Ms Dawick also intimated a not guilty plea to a separate, more recent, allegation of threatening to injure someone with intent to frighten them.
The next hearing in relation to the actual charges has been scheduled for a Young Adults’ list in November.
Bail conditions require the man to live at a specified address and forbid him from driving, consuming meth, and offering violence. There is also a condition preventing him from contacting the person he allegedly threatened.
The lead charges of reckless driving causing death and reckless driving causing injury carry maximum penalties respectively of 10 years and five years imprisonment, or a fine of up to $20,000.
