Father guilty of son's manslaughter

File photo / Greg Bowker

A father has been found guilty of dangerous driving causing manslaughter after his four-year-old son died when he drove his car into the path of a freight train in south Auckland last year.

Alan Stephens, 40, was also found guilty by a jury in the High Court at Auckland of three charges of dangerous driving causing injury. All verdicts were unanimous.

His wife wept uncontrollably when the verdicts were delivered just after 2.30pm.

Stephens was released on bail until his next court appearance for sentencing on October 21.

During the trial, the jury heard that Stephens drove his car around barrier arms at a rail crossing at Paerata, near Pukekohe in January last year, and into the path of the train, which hit the back of the car. His son, Trae Blayde, received fatal injuries and daughters Shannyne, six, and Holly, two, and niece Nakita, 12, were injured.

Trae was flown by rescue helicopter to hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Nakita received severe head injuries and would have serious problems for the rest of her life, the Crown said.

Holly had subdural bleeding to the brain and Shannyne was cut and bruised. Stephens was not injured.

His lawyer Quentin Duff said Stephens was momentarily distracted and did not see the train.

The Crown called 24 witnesses during the trial, which ran into its second week.

The jury of seven men and five women retired at 3.20pm yesterday.

- NZPA