Fight for keys, then fatal crash - police

Warren Jenkins. Photo / Natalie Slade

A man has been formally charged after allegedly fighting his partner for car keys on a night of drinking before driving and killing a solo mother.

Warren John Jenkins, 49, appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday charged with drink driving causing death, driving while disqualified, assault and other charges in relation to the death of Kerikeri mum Katherine "Rin" Kennedy, 46, in March.

He did not enter a plea and was remanded on bail - to one of two addresses or a rehabilitation clinic - until next month.

It is ten weeks since a ute driven by Jenkins collided head-on with Ms Kennedy's Volkswagen Polo about 8.40am on State Highway Two in Kerikeri.

A blood alcohol test by police returned a reading of 146mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - nearly twice the 80mg legal limit.

Ms Kennedy - who was nearing the Oromahoe area of Kerikeri when Jenkins' ute allegedly crossed the centreline - was airlifted to Whangarei Hospital where she died hours later.

Her five-year-old son, Matthew Kennedy, is being cared for by his uncle Chris Kennedy.

The fatal crash followed a night of drinking for Jenkins, says a police summary of the case.

Police say Jenkins argued with his partner about washing her Nissan ute before leaving the house to go drinking with mates.

He then rang her hours later to be picked up and brought home, refusing to eat dinner. When his partner went to bed Jenkins allegedly took the car keys and started the ute.

On hearing the engine, she rushed outside to try to stop him and grabbed the keys from the ignition.

Police say Jenkins shoved her out of the way and caused her to fall backwards, hurting her hands and feet.

He then drove to a friend's house before continuing on to a supermarket to buy more alcohol.

The pair carried on drinking and police say Jenkins was on the road at 8.40am the next morning when the collision happened.

Police say he failed to make a left hand bend and crossed the centreline, hitting Ms Kennedy head-on.

Her VW was shunted 25m backwards into a ditch.

Several motorists, including a local doctor, stopped and tried to help.

In court yesterday an emotionless Jenkins stood in the dock as Judge Phil Gittos remanded him on bail.

The Charges:

* Assault

* Theft

* Excess blood alcohol

* Driving while disqualified for third time

* Drink driving causing injury

* Drink driving causing death