Barltrop pleads guilty to reduced charge in Bourne trial

By MONIQUE DEVERUEX

Rally Driver Michael Barltrop today pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated careless use of a vehicle causing death when he appeared in the Invercargill District Court.

Barltrop, 38, of Kingston, Central Otago, had previously denied dangerous driving causing Possum Bourne's death.

The pair collided on April 18 last year during a reconnaissance run before the Race to the Sky rally near Wanaka.

Rally legend Bourne died of his head injuries in Dunedin Hospital 12 days later after his life support machine was turned off.

Barltrop will be sentenced on November 12. The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment.