KEY POINTS:
A 17-year-old youth charged with manslaughter of a 16-year-old girl after a car crash last Thursday has been remanded in the custody of the Ministry of Social Development for a further two weeks.
He made an appearance before Judge Jane McMeeken in the Christchurch Youth Court today, and was remanded to April 8.
He has entered no pleas to charges of reckless driving causing manslaughter of one 16-year-old girl and injury to another, unlawfully taking a car, driving with excess breath-alcohol, burglary, failing to stop for a police car using its lights and siren, and failing to stop after the crash.
Police were pursuing the vehicle about 9.30pm on Thursday night when it allegedly went through a give-way sign at the end of Styx Mill Road, hit a tree, and crashed down a bank to the stream.
Siobhan McNulty has been appointed as youth advocate for the unemployed youth. She sought the remand so that she could receive more disclosure details from the police about the case.
The youth had been remanded in police custody on Saturday because there were no secure beds available for him through the ministry, but he was transferred later in the weekend.
Judge McMeeken expressed concern about details in one report about the case and reminded reporters of the statutory restrictions on reporting cases in the Youth Court.
- NZPA
