KEY POINTS:
Two young men who reached speeds of up to 180km/h during a drag race which left a 17-year-old old girl dead have had charges of manslaughter against them dropped.
Lance Ryan Moana, 19, and Dale Steven Bellingham, 21, were to due to face trial in the High Court in Gisborne today for the manslaughter of Waipa Pamaria Hundal.
However, the charges were withdrawn and Moana, who was driving the car in which Ms Hundal was a passenger, pleaded guilty to one charge each of driving with an excess blood alcohol level causing death and unauthorised street racing causing death.
Bellingham pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and unauthorised street racing causing death.
Moana was remanded on bail and Bellingham in custody for sentencing on December 7.
The prosecution said that at about 9pm on July 13, 2006, Moana was driving his Honda Integra along Centennial Marine Drive with Miss Hundal in the front passenger seat, not wearing a seat belt.
When they got to the intersection of Pacific Street, Bellingham approached them in his Holden and they began to race south along the road.
They raced for about 3km, reaching speeds of up to 180km/h.
When the cars reached the old dump they stopped and Bellingham asked Moana if he wanted to race back, to which he replied yes.
They began racing back, reaching speeds of about 180km/h again.
Moana then lost control, left the road and rolled a number of times.
The car crossed two fences before stopping about 70m from the road.
Miss Hundal was thrown from the car and died at the scene.
Police located Moana about 3km from the crash scene. He admitted to racing but gave no explanation for his actions.
Bellingham was still at the crash scene when police arrived and told them he was the driver of the other car.
- NZPA
