Guilty plea to killing two teen cyclists

WANGANUI - A 62-year-old man yesterday pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of two boys, whom he struck with his Land-Rover while driving home from a hotel in February.

Victor Lloyd Minnell, aged 62, tannery worker, appeared before Judge Philip Connell in the Wanganui District Court, where he pleaded guilty to two charges of manslaughter and one charge of failing to stop.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Colin Irvine, said Minnell drove from his home in Wanganui to the Railway Hotel at Turakina, about 20km south of Wanganui at about 4.30 pm on February 24.

On his way back to Wanganui about four hours later he struck Zane Lee Richard Cutter, 13, and Colin Andrew Morgan, 14, on the Cobham Bridge.

The impact bent the Land-Rover's steel bullbar and mudguard and shattered its passenger door window.

Sergeant Irvine said Zane Cutter was catapulted with his cycle off the bridge. His injuries, which included a skull fracture and fracture to his arm, were believed to have been survivable, and his cause of death was later determined as drowning.

Colin Morgan received severe head injuries and police believe he died instantly.

Minnell continued home after the collision and went to bed. He was not wearing his glasses at the time of the collision.

His wife rang police the next day after he told her he hit something on the bridge.

A blood-alcohol reading from Minnell was not possible because of the time elapsed between the accident and police being contacted.

Minnell was remanded in custody until July 27 for sentencing. He did not apply for bail.

- NZPA