KEY POINTS:
A man killed in a West Coast car surfing incident simply stepped off the vehicle, Greymouth District Court was told today.
Jessie Jayne Leigh Scott, 28, is accused of manslaughter by failing to take reasonable care to avoid danger to Jamie Angus Mackay on the on March 9.
Mr Mackay died after falling from the roof of Scott's car.
On March 9, Scott had driven to Kaiapoi, in Canterbury, to pick him up.
Diana Smith, a friend of Scott, was travelling to the West Coast for a holiday, so she followed through the Lewis Pass in her vehicle.
Mr Mackay was at first throwing beer bottles out of the car -- he had purchased a carton of beer before leaving Christchurch -- and then started to climb out a window.
For a while, his upper body was out of the car while his legs were inside.
Ms Smith, following behind, said she tooted her horn and gestured that he should get back in, and he did.
However, a little later he climbed out onto the roof, at first kneeling and holding on to the sides of the car. He then stood upright with his arms outstretched.
Ms Smith said the cars were travelling at 40km/h.
On a straight stretch of road Mr Mackay stepped off the car.
"He stepped, as you would if stepping off a low fence."
Witness Jay Edwards told the court he saw a Honda City car with someone standing on the roof.
He said it was travelling about 100km/h. The man on the roof was leaning down with one hand on the car for balance, and had a beer can in the other.
The vehicles passed without incident.
Five more witnesses were to give evidence at the depositions hearing.
- NZPA
