Teacher to deny she was almost four times over the limit

Joanna Wright leaving Auckland District Court today. Picture / Dean Purcell

A teacher accused of driving with one of the country's highest blood-alcohol readings has a technical defence against the charge, a court was told today.

Joanna Winifred Wright, 47, has been charged with driving with a blood-alcohol limit nearly four times the legal maximum.

In March she was stopped by a police patrol. It is alleged she had a reading of 1583 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, while the legal limit is 400.

Wright, of west Auckland, appeared in the court for a status hearing today where her lawyer Peter Boylan said she had a technical defence to her blood alcohol charge and another charge of failing to stop for police.

"Everything is contestable," Mr Boylan told the Auckland District Court.

After an earlier hearing he said there were questions about the reliability of the breath test.

He told the court today she would enter a not guilty plea and defend the charges at a hearing in August.

Wright said nothing in court and left with a family member attempting to shield her from news cameras.

The alleged reading stunned veteran police. One policeman of 30 years said he had never seen a higher reading.

Alcohol Healthwatch said the level was very dangerous and could make a person's central nervous system begin to shut down.

- NZPA