Woman guilty after claiming partner was driving

A woman accused of killing her partner and injuring her niece by carelessly driving a motor vehicle has been found guilty of speeding.

However, a Rotorua District Court jury found her not guilty of being under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Ondrea Rangipurei Reweti, 32, of Reporoa, who is in a wheelchair as a result of the crash, denied she was driving the car that crashed causing the death of her partner Anton Bellas and causing injury to Waiwhakaata McLaughlan.

She had been charged with careless driving by being under the influence of alcohol and alternative charges of careless driving by speeding.

The crash happened on May 11, 2003 on Broadlands Rd.

Judge Phillip Cooper bailed Reweti for sentencing on October 19.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)