Farmer found not guilty over daughter's quad bike death

Dairy farmer Gavin John Vanner was today found not guilty in the High Court at New Plymouth of the manslaughter of his four-year-old daughter Molly who was killed riding his quad bike.

Vanner, 37, was also found not guilty of the lesser charge of committing criminal nuisance by endangering his daughter's life in allowing her to ride the quad bike on August 30 on the family farm at Kakaramea in South Taranaki.

Molly was killed when the 368kg bike rolled on top of her after her father stopped to make a cellphone call.

The Crown told the court that Molly lost her life because her father had been negligent in allowing her to ride down a paddock on the four-wheel vehicle specifically designed for adults. Vanner's counsel argued that the tragedy was simply the result of an accident.

The trial before a jury of eight women and four men began on Tuesday.

- NZPA