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A teenager driving a car he bought the previous day today admitted killing a woman pedestrian in a high speed crash in Christchurch after a party that both attended.
Michael James Bensley, 18, a builder, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at a pre-depositions conference session in Christchurch District Court, and was remanded for sentence.
Twenty-year-old Elizabeth Hart died of high-impact injuries to her head, spine, chest, abdomen, and limbs, police prosecutor Nigel Wolland told Judge Colin Doherty.
Mr Wolland said Bensley had been at the same party as Ms Hart but police checks later revealed he was not affected by alcohol.
After midnight on June 22 Bensley left the party with three associates in a Nissan Skyline he had bought the day before.
The car was not up to warrant of fitness standard because of a stop light fault, tinted windows, and worn brake pads that were due for replacement, but none of these faults contributed to the crash.
Bensley accelerated hard along Fendalton Road, which has a 50km/h speed limit.
"There were many pedestrians from the party out on the footpath," Mr Wolland. said.
As Ms Hart crossed the road from the party Bensley's vehicle struck her.
He did not stop at the scene, but halted further along the road and called police.
He told the police he had been travelling at about 120km/h, but thought the pedestrian had seen him and stopped to wait for him to pass.
He said she walked in front of him as he continued driving.
Bensley, who has no previous convictions, was remanded on bail for sentence, and Judge Doherty ordered a pre-sentence report and updated victim impact statements.
- NZPA
