Hubbard crash trial adjourned, new date to be set

The scene of the crash which killed Alan Hubbard in 2011. Photo/ Dan Tasker

The trial of a Mosgiel man charged over the death of businessman Allan Hubbard has been adjourned this morning for a new date to be set.

Andy Earl, 42, is defending a charge of careless driving causing death and a further charge of careless driving causing injury following a fatal collision on State Highway 1, 8km north of Oamaru on September 2 2011.

Mr Hubbard, 83, died shortly after the crash and his wife Jean, who was driving, was injured.

The trial resumed this morning briefly but was adjourned for a new date to be set.

When the trial began in early June in Oamaru District Court, sitting in Timaru, a witness told the court of his concerns over Earl's "erratic" driving shortly before the crash.

He said that in his rearview mirror, he saw Earl's red Holden Rodeo 4WD ute drift into the Hubbard's oncoming white Honda Jazz, causing the crash.

Another witness who was travelling immediately behind the car driven by Mrs Hubbard told the court he saw the white car drift across the centre line and collide with another vehicle.

Earl's defence claims Mrs Hubbard, 82, was the one who crossed the centre-line and caused the head-on collision.

On the second day of the trial, on June 5, Judge Gary MacAskill granted a joint adjournment application from prosecutor Paul Knox and defence counsel John Westgate to allow potential further evidence to be investigated.

Mr Earl and Mrs Hubbard, 82, have both told the court they cannot remember the collision.

Mr Hubbard's firm, Aorangi Securities was at the time being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and was placed in statutory management in June 2010, owing investors up to $100 million.

The SFO laid 50 charges against Mr Hubbard under the Crimes Act but those were dropped shortly after his death.