A 22-year-old Masterton driver, charged with dangerous driving causing death following a fiery road crash near Eketahuna in June 2011, will be assessed by medical professionals to verify if he is fit to stand trial.
Speaking at Masterton District Court yesterday, defence lawyer Louise Elder said that based on her initial disclosure she could "foresee the need for quite significant and technical health assessment reports".
Father of one Tyler Jerome Murphy was just 19 when the single-vehicle crash occurred about 10.20pm on June 22, 2011. He was cut from the wreckage of the Subaru stationwagon he was driving when it left the road and rolled into a deep culvert before bursting into flames.
His passenger Tom Morison, 19, died at the scene beside State Highway 2.
Murphy was subsequently flown to Wellington Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
