Guilty plea for drink-drive officer

A Taranaki policeman charged with drink-driving while attending a fatal accident near Mokau will plead guilty but seek a discharge without conviction, says his lawyer.

Sole-charge Mokau constable Jonathan Erwood was charged after he drove to a crash in which two people died.

His blood-alcohol level was almost a third over the legal limit.

Erwood was yesterday excused from appearing in the New Plymouth District Court, where his lawyer Susan Hughes told Judge Louis Bidois that he planned to plead guilty to the charge.

She said the circumstances leading to the charge warranted leniency, and she would seek a discharge without conviction, and no disqualification from driving.

Clint Ratima, 32, of Aria, and New Plymouth physiotherapist Jennifer Trentham, 48, died in the accident, attended by Erwood on July 9.

Mrs Trentham's husband, Richard, was taken to Taranaki Hospital with serious injuries.

The 37-year-old sole-charge policeman who was not on duty on the day of the accident was breath-tested at the crash scene by a highway patrol officer who said he smelled alcohol on Erwood's breath.

Blood testing allegedly revealed 106 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

The charge has polarised the small township. Several people, including emergency workers who attended the accident, are supporting Erwood, who is heavily involved in community clubs and events.

But the case is clouded by the fact that Erwood was drinking with Mr Ratima shortly before the latter's vehicle, driving north, failed to take a corner and hit the Trenthams.

Erwood is scheduled to appear in court again on September 13.