Guilty plea over lake death tragedy

Ashish Macwan, left, with his wife Kinnary leave Manukau District Court today after appearing on charges of causing death by careless driving. Photo / NZPA/David Rowland.

The father of a toddler who died when the family van rolled backwards into a Central Otago lake in April wants to stay in New Zealand to be close to his son who is buried here.

Ashish Macwan, 32, pleaded guilty in Manukau District Court today to careless driving causing the death of three-year-old Aarush and will be sentenced on August 5.

Speaking to NZPA outside court, Macwan said he wanted to stay in New Zealand to be close to his son.

"I wanted to take him back to India but because of the court case we didn't get the chance so now he's buried here," Macwan said.

Macwan said he did not have any idea of what sentence he might be given but hoped to be discharged without conviction.

But his wife Kinnary said they were "ready for anything."

Aarush drowned when the van rolled into Lake Dunstan after the family stopped for a break while on a holiday in the South Island at Easter.

Macwan, his wife, and their 11-year-old son managed to scramble clear and were helped to the shore by passersby but Aarush was trapped in the back with his seatbelt on and could not been saved.

Macwan admitted he should have applied the handbrake on the vehicle, his lawyer Frank Parrera told Judge Jane Lovell-Smith in court today.

He requested that Macwan's surrendered passport be returned to him so he could apply for renewal of his work permit, which expires on August 19.

Judge Lovell-Smith agreed with the request, on condition that he did not apply for travel documents.

The family moved to New Zealand from India last year.

- NZPA