December 15, 2008

Defence may seek to block manslaughter charge

A hearing on February 11 will decide whether the police go ahead with a manslaughter charge against Arcanie Vincent Optetaia Matagi, who has admitted causing the death of a Christchurch woman during a street race along the Main North Road.

Matagi, a 25-year-old printer, has admitted the charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Laureen Helen Reilly, but the police also want to proceed with an earlier charge of manslaughter arising from the same incident.

Defence counsel Allister Davis told the Christchurch District Court today that evidential matters had arisen about the agreement over the charge Matagi would face and evidence may have to be called.

Judge Gary MacAskill remanded Matagi on bail to February 11 for a hearing at which the defence may file an application to have the manslaughter charge ?dismissed for a recent process? ? a reference to the guilty plea entered on the other charge.

That would mean sentencing could then go ahead on the charges that Matagi has admitted, dangerous driving causing death and injuring another person.

He crashed while racing with another car along the Main North Road on May 6. Police believe he could have been going at 150kmh when he lost control of the car while overtaking, spun across the road and crashed into a vehicle coming the other way.

The death of Mrs Reilly sparked a political campaign by her son, ACT candidate Aaron Keown, for harsher penalties.