January 20, 2013

Plea next month on driving-death charge

By David Clarkson at Nga Hau e Wha marae

A 22-year-old who returned from Australia to face a charge of drink-driving causing death over a crash at West Melton has been told he must plead to the charges he faces at his next Christchurch District Court appearance on February 4.

Cody Marcus John Pierce was arrested at the airport when he came back to Christchurch from Queensland?s Gold Coast and appeared in court on a series of charges two weeks ago, after the death of Sean Christopher Frost, 43, who was a passenger in a car allegedly being driven by Pierce.

Frost died in Christchurch Hospital five days after the October 27 crash in which a car struck a power pole near the intersection of Neave and Johnson Roads.

Pierce has been charged with driving while disqualified, drink-driving causing death, failing to stop at the accident, and failing to report the crash.

Defence counsel Richard Maze said today that the police had provided a significant amount of the material on their case, but some parts of the evidence were still to be supplied to him. He asked for a further two-week remand.

Judge Emma Smith granted the remand, but said that pleas to the charges would be expected at Pierce?s next appearance at the Nga Hau e Wha marae on February 4.

Pierce remains on bail.