Trial over motorcyclist's death likely 'end of the year'

Whanganui District Court.

The motorcyclist accused of causing a crash that killed his friend and denying any knowledge of the accident appeared in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday for a case review hearing.

James Eric Hiroki, 52, has pleaded not guilty to eight charges – the most serious being driving dangerously causing death.

The charges relate to a fatal incident on State Highway 1 near the Rangitikei town of Ohingaiti on November 12 last year.

Another motorcyclist, 54-year-old James Gregory Nelson, died after his motorcycle and two cars collided. Three other people were hospitalised with moderate to serious injuries.

Judge Philip Crayton remanded Hiroki on bail for a pre-trial call over on July 30. The judge said it was likely trial would take place "late in the year or early 2019" and was expected to take five days.

The eight charges include; drove dangerously causing death, two counts of failing to stop or ascertain injury, three counts of driving dangerously causing injury, one count of possessing an offensive weapon.

Further detail of the incident has been suppressed until trial.