Possum Bourne's widow welcomes guilty plea

1.00pm

A guilty plea from the rally driver charged over the death of Possum Bourne has been welcomed by Bourne's widow.

But Peggy Bourne said while she is pleased at the acceptance of responsibility, it will not bring her husband back.

Michael Barltrop today pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated careless use of a vehicle causing death when he appeared in the Invercargill District Court.

Barltrop, 38, of Kingston, Central Otago, had previously denied a charge of dangerous driving causing Bourne's death.

The pair collided on April 18 last year during a reconnaissance run before the Race to the Sky rally near Wanaka.

Rally legend Bourne died of his head injuries in Dunedin Hospital 12 days later after his life support machine was turned off.

Peggy said today: "While there is some relief in the guilty plea and acceptance of responsibility, the simple truth is this - nothing will bring Possum back."

Crown solicitor Alistair Garland said in court today that Barltrop was on the wrong side of the road showing his co-driver which way he would attack a corner during the Race to the Sky hill climb when the two vehicles collided during the second reconnaissance run of the day.

Barltrop had substituted his original co-driver for a friend who had no experience, Mr Garland said.

The co-driver had lost his way on the map during the first reconnaissance run and had also not attended the briefing given by the chief clerk of the course.

Bourne did not take part in the course reconnaissance because he was doing media interviews and looking after matters in the pit area, Mr Garland said.

During the second run Barltrop and his co-driver decided to write down their own notes of the course.

"As Barltrop approached a blind brow he told his co-driver that on race day he wanted to position his vehicle on the right hand side of the road so he could negotiate the next left-hand bend.

"With this, Barltrop drove his Jeep Cherokee on the right hand to the extent the passenger side of the vehicle was positioned on or slightly to the right of the centre of the road."

Bourne was coming down the hill at the time and the two vehicles collided.

Crash experts had estimated Barltrop and Bourne would have had 4.5 seconds to react to what was happening.

Both pulled to the same side. Barltop hit Bourne's vehicle on the driver's side, Mr Garland said, "where Bourne was seated, trapping him in the vehicle".

Barltrop maintained his innocence after the crash, telling police and media Bourne was travelling at speeds of 100km/h to 140km/h on the wrong side of the road, Mr Garland said.

Judge Stephen O'Driscoll remanded Barltrop on bail until November 12 for sentence.

He ordered that pre-sentence victim impact and reparation reports be prepared before sentence.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment.

- HERALD STAFF, NZPA and Newstalk ZB