'Ratbag' police chase victim farewelled

The stolen car driven by Caine Burgess. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The family of a man who died fleeing police in a stolen car shared happier memories of a "ratbag" at his funeral yesterday.

Caine Burgess, 20, was being chased by police when he crashed into a passing car at an intersection south of Auckland. The woman driving the other car escaped serious injury.

At the funeral, mourners heard Burgess was a "good kid", a chatterbox and a practical joker, who had made a series of poor choices.

One aunt, Denise Hall, recalled his "cheeky lop-sided grin", and how he wore his cap backward "at just the right angle". But another aunt, Kaye Burgess, said her nephew had been grown into a difficult teenager over the last five years.

"He might have been a little s***, but you don't wish that kind of end on anyone."