No pleas in Haka Valley fatality case

The driver sought a final remand without plea. Photo / File

Former long-serving North Otago rugby player Regan Laughton sought a final remand without plea when he appeared in the Timaru District Court yesterday following a fatal crash in May.

The veteran Kurow loose forward, a star in the North Otago team that won its first national title in 2002, was driving the vehicle involved in the crash in Hakataramea Valley Rd.

Regan Edward Laughton, 40, driver, of Hakataramea, appeared before Judge Brian Callaghan facing four charges of driving with a blood-alcohol level of 100mg causing injury and one count of driving with excess blood alcohol causing death. The legal limit is 50mg.

Laughton, through counsel David Jackson, sought a final remand without plea.

Mr Jackson said "active" legal discussions were continuing, with more "expert" inquiries into the case under way.

Jarrad Ethan Blackler died in the crash and and Ashley Maree Boardman, Timothy Michael Anderson, Simon Matthew Bertenshaw and Robert Alexander Courtnell were injured.

Laughton was remanded at large without plea, to reappear on November 24.

Originally from Southland, Laughton made his North Otago rugby debut in 1999 and had 58 first-class caps when he retired from representative duty in 2007, having made a comeback to help the Old Golds win the Meads Cup.

He continued to play and co-coach the Kurow club side.