August 08, 2011

Canterbury manslaughter trial heads north

By David Clarkson

Earthquake disruption has got another important Christchurch trial packing its bags for Wellington.

September 12 has been set for the start of the trial of Worthy Redeemed in the Wellington High Court on three charges of manslaughter relating to a crash near Woodend on May 1 last year.

Court staff are working on arrangements for the trial at a time when Rugby World Cup fixtures are also being held in the capital.

The High Court in Christchurch is on the fourth and fifth floors of the Court House which has not been reoccupied since the February 22 earthquake.

Although courts are operating in temporary venues all over the city, there is no venue suitable for jury trials. District and High Court jury trials have been set down for hearing in Greymouth, Timaru, Dunedin, and Wellington.

Redeemed faces three charges of manslaughter and four of dangerous driving causing injury arising from a crash on State Highway 1, south of Woodend, when a car allegedly crossed the centre line of the road and ploughed into a bus coming the other way.

Redeemed, a 38-year-old who was formerly known as Lee Errol Silvester, was a front seat passenger in the car. He and rear-seat passenger Rhys Durham, 16, survived with serious injuries.

Three people in the car were killed. They were Jethro Bronson Cooper, 16, Kodee Marie Rapana-Aldersley, 15, and Dean Jonathan McArtney, 21.

Three people in the bus were also injured.

It is understood the crown will allege at the trial that Redeemed reached over from his passenger seat and pushed the steering wheel, causing the car to veer into the path of the bus.

He left Rangiora while he was on bail on these charges and a warrant was issued for his arrest at a court sitting in the town on November 9. Within a few days he had contacted the police and arranged to give himself up at a street corner in Upper Hutt. He was taken to the District Court there and remanded in custody back to Rangiora. Since then, the case has been transferred to the High Court, and scheduled for hearing in Wellington.