A trial has just been aborted for a Napier woman accused of deliberately smashing into a car - causing a fatal accident.
Lyree Sayers allegedly tried to commit suicide by swerving into the path of a car being driven by Pam McGarva. The 55-year-old kindergarten teacher received serious head injuries and died in hospital 10 days later.
The Crown alleges 26-year-old Sayers had a heated argument with her then boyfriend before getting into her car in July last year - and deliberately hitting the other car on Prebensen Drive in Napier.
Justice Denis Clifford yesterday dismissed the jury, after only one day, saying due to legal difficulties with evidence he has put the trial off.
Justice Clifford addressed family members in the public gallery, saying the court regretted this type of thing happening and no one was pleased to have to do that: given the seriousness of the charges, stopping the trial was the most appropriate course of action. The matter will be called again today with a new trial expected to start.
