Two admit fatal drink role

Rangimaria White died after she was hit by a car in July.

Two people have admitted supplying alcohol to a person under 18, following an investigation into the death of 14-year-old Rangimaria White.

Roberta Kingi, 42, and Jazmin Herewini, 17, pleaded guilty in the Opotiki District Court yesterday to charges under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act of supplying alcohol to a person under 18.

Both were charged following an investigation into the death of Rangimaria, who died after being hit by a car as she lay on Goring St, Opotiki, in the early hours of July 26.

Kingi and Herewini entered guilty pleas and were remanded until November 12 for a restorative justice conference to take place.

The police summary of facts said that on July 25 both women were working together in Opotiki. Herewini had received a text message from her 14-year-old cousin asking if she could buy alcohol for her and a friend, also 14. In turn Herewini had asked Kingi if she could buy the alcohol.

Herewini and Kingi had gone to a bottle store and Herewini had given Kingi $40. In the store Herewini had pointed out a box of vodka pre-mixed drinks.

Once they returned to work, Herewini had texted her cousin and said she had her alcohol. A short time later, Herewini had given the box to her cousin and was given $22.

Herewini, her cousin and Rangimaria had walked to an Opotiki address with the alcohol. The box was opened about 11pm.

After drinking several bottles each, and other alcohol, the trio had gone to another house. At 12.20am the two 14-year-olds had gone to yet another address.

Later Herewini learned Rangimaria had been fatally run over after collapsing on a road.

She told police she had "just been trying to help her cousin".

The summary said Kingi told police buying the alcohol was something stupid she had done and that she had not thought through her actions.

"Because of my actions this accident happened," she told police.

Judge Louis Bidois told the women the restorative justice conference would be an opportunity for them to get together with Rangimaria's whanau.

"You must appreciate what happens when you supply a 14-year-old with alcohol," Judge Bidois said.

"Sometimes it results in a fatality."

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