Stabbed teen's mother in court for crash

The mother of a teenager who was stabbed and killed by a Manurewa businessman has appeared in court for causing a car accident soon after her son's killer was sentenced.

Leanne Cameron, 33, appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday on one charge of careless driving.

Cameron is the mother of Pihema Cameron, 15, who was stabbed after being chased down the street by Bruce Emery on January 26 last year.

Emery was sentenced in the High Court at Auckland on February 13 to four years and three months in prison for manslaughter.

Manukau District Court heard yesterday that Cameron was driving to Northland with her daughter when she lost control of her car and crashed into another vehicle.

Her daughter was injured, as was the driver of the other car and his son.

Cameron took responsibility for her actions immediately at the scene.

Speaking to the Herald after the court appearance, Cameron said that on the night of the accident, February 28, she was driving up north for a break after Emery's trial.

"We were pretty stressed and I thought I'd take my daughter away for some one-on-one time," she said. "I'm truly sorry for the injuries."

Cameron is about to move to Brisbane to work.

Judge Gus Andree Wiltens told Cameron her "moment of carelessness" had caused the other driver injuries that left him unconscious. He was still suffering concussion.

Neither driver had insurance.

Mr Andree Wiltens said Cameron had two previous excess blood and breath alcohol charges.

He ordered her to pay $500 reparation and disqualified her from driving for 12 months.