Death driver sentenced to care in mental hospital

A man who crashed at high speed into a car, killing an 8-year-old Tokoroa boy, has been sentenced to care in a mental hospital.

Pehi Rangi, 24, will not be allowed out of the Henry Bennett Centre in Hamilton without permission from the director of mental health, a judge in the High Court at Rotorua said yesterday.

Last week Rangi was found not guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of insanity. He was a resident at the Henry Bennett Centre at the time.

Mark Cooper, the father of victim Liam Cooper, and a family friend, Rowan Pringle, were also seriously injured and are still recovering from extensive burns and other injuries.