Whakatāne woman faces murder charge after Bay of Plenty car incident

A woman charged with murder and wounding with intent appeared in the Whakatāne District Court on Monday. Photo / NZ Herald

By Sam Sherwood of RNZ

A woman charged with murdering one person and seriously injuring another inside a car has been ordered to undergo assessments to see whether she is fit to plead, as well as whether she is insane.

The judge granted interim name suppression for the woman, as well as the victims.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Flax and Matatā Rds in Bay of Plenty at about 3.50pm, after a report of two people being injured by a third person, while in a vehicle.

During the incident, the vehicle left the road and crashed.

One person died at the scene, while the other is in a stable condition in hospital.

A 34-year-old woman appeared in the Whakatāne District Court on Monday before Judge Stephen Coyle on charges of murder, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The woman’s lawyer, Scott Mills, requested a remand without plea. There was no application for bail.

Mills said he was concerned about a report being done to see whether the woman was insane at this “very early stage”.

Crown solicitor Anna Pollett requested the woman undergo both reports.

Judge Coyle granted the police’s request.

The woman was remanded in custody to appear in the High Court on October 22.

Detective Inspector Lew Warner earlier said police inquiries were ongoing.

- RNZ