Manslaughter trial over deaths of four people in car crash set for October

Stephen Jones leaving Hamilton District Court with lawyer Mike Curran in December after appearing on charges over a crash that killed four people last June. The has been set for October. Photo/File

Two Hamilton men facing manslaughter charges after a crash which killed four people on the outskirts of Hamilton will go on trial in October.

Dylan Cossey and Stephen John Jones, both 20, reappeared in the High Court at Hamilton today after a crash that killed young friends: Hamilton woman Hannah Leis Strickett-Craze, 24, Paul De Silva, 20, and Lance Robinson, 28, both of Te Awamutu, and Jason McCormick Ross, 19, of Stratford.

Matthew Scheepers of Hamilton was seriously injured.

Justice Katz confirmed a nine-day trial will begin on October 30.

The crown has 26 witnesses but not all will need to be called.

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The pair were remanded on further bail for a trial callover in June.

The crash happened on Ohaupo Rd, at the intersection of Ingram Rd, outside Hamilton Airport, on June 24 last year when a northbound Nissan Skyline collided with Scheepers' southbound van.

The pair originally faced charges of either encouraging unnecessary speed leading to the injuries to Scheepers and the deaths of Ross, Robinson, De Silva and Strickett-Craze, or in Cossey's case, operating a motor vehicle on a road causing death, as well as another charge of operating a motor vehicle causing injury and failing to stop.

However, the charges were upgraded to manslaughter at the men's last appearance in February.

Dylan Cossey is facing charges over a crash that killed three men and one woman. Photo/File