Northland businessman admits causing the death of family members

Susanna Stewart (far right), daughter Sadie and fellow Brethren member Jamie Wearmouth died in a ute carelessly driven by Russell Stewart. Photo / Supplied

The downgraded driving charges a Northland man pleaded guilty to carry a maximum penalty of three months' imprisonment or a fine of $4500.

Kaiwaka businessman and Brethren Church member Russell Stewart has admitted causing the deaths of his wife, daughter and a fellow church member when a ute he was driving crashed into a tree on Baylys Coast Rd about 6.45pm on June 6, 2016.

Russell Stewart.

Members of his church, which has renamed itself the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, were present when Stewart entered guilty pleas in the Whangarei District Court yesterday.He admitted three counts of careless driving causing death and four of careless driving causing bodily injury.

Stewart, 49, was initially charged with three charges of aggravated careless driving causing death, four of aggravated careless driving causing injury, and one of failing to stop to check injury after an accident.

Aggravated careless driving causing injury or death carries a maximum penalty of three years in jail or a maximum fine of $10,000 plus mandatory disqualification from driving for one year.

The mandatory disqualification from driving on a charge of careless driving causing injury or death is six months.

Crown prosecutor Kyle MacNeil's application for leave to amend the charges was not opposed by defence lawyer Anthony Rogers yesterday.

The pleas were entered the day Stewart's four-week trial was scheduled to start in the Whangarei District Court.Stewart caused the deaths of his wife, Susanna Stewart, 48, their daughter Sadie, 16, and friend James Wearmouth, 18, who were on their way home from Baylys Beach with other members of the Exclusive Brethren community near Dargaville.

There were eight passengers in the five-seater Mitsubishi Triton and Stewart was behind the wheel. He was remanded at large until February 23 for sentencing in the same court.