Second death after hit-and-run

Relatives of 23-year-old Melissa Viall leave the Manukau District Court. Picture / Greg Bowker

A man critically injured when a car was driven into a crowd in Pakuranga on Sunday died late last night in Middlemore Hospital.

He was Kane Wright, 19. Police said he died at 10.45pm.

Melissa Viall, 23, an early childhood teaching student, was also killed when she went to the aid of one of the men hit by a car after a 21st birthday celebration.

As she was trying to help him, the car turned and drove back, hitting her. She had died from head injuries by the time police arrived.

Two others, aged 31 and 27, were also injured and were last night in a stable condition.

An apprentice mechanic accused of driving into the crowd told police he was trying to disperse a group of men who were assaulting his friend.

The 24-year-old, who has interim name suppression, appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday charged with murdering Melissa Viall in a carpark at Highland Park on Sunday.

Ms Viall was struck when the car's driver allegedly made a u-turn and drove back towards the scene.

Her family said she did not know any of the injured men and was "in the wrong place at the wrong time".

The early childhood student teacher was a sweet, caring person who would have wanted to help, they said. She had completed a first aid course the previous day.

Graham Viall said the circumstances leading up to his niece's death were still not entirely clear but she did not know the men involved.

Ms Viall had been at a 21st birthday party where a person was "ejected" from the private party held at a bar.

The man was involved in a "rumble" outside with a couple of birthday guests but was then chased and assaulted by a separate group of people who were not known to them, Mr Viall said.

He understood the murder accused was a friend of the man who came under attack.

The man's lawyer, Adam Couchman, told the court yesterday his client accepted he was the driver of the Nissan Sentra but the issue of intent was "a live issue".

"What's not necessarily clear [from the police case] is that the defendant drove his vehicle into the general area as his friend lay unconscious."

The court was also told the accused had a friend in the car at the time.

He is alleged to have fled the scene and went to see the parents of his friend to tell them he had been seriously assaulted. He then went home and spoke to his mother about what had happened.

"With his consent and approval police were contacted by the mother and he remained at [their home] address. He then went back to the police station," Mr Couchman said.

Ms Viall's brother, a cousin and two friends were at court yesterday to see the man accused of her murder. They said it was part of their grieving process to attend the hearing.

Members of the man's family, including his mother, were also in the public gallery.

A relative, who would not identify himself, said outside the court: "We're all gravely sorry for what happened and everything."

He said the accused was trying to save his mate, who was now in hospital "with boot marks on the side of his head".

There had been 30 people against one man, the relative said.

Ms Viall will be farewelled at a service at the Papakura Anglican Church at 1pm on Thursday.