Lawyer seeks bail for teen alleged to have killed Tongan royals

The lawyer for the Californian teenage driver who is alleged to have killed two Tongan royals and their driver has filed an appeal, seeking to have her bail reduced.

Edith Delgado, 18, has been held on US$3 million ($5 million) bail since the July 5 highway crash near San Francisco that killed Tongan Prince Tu'ipelehake, 54, and Princess Kaimana Tu'ipelehake, 45, as well as their driver Vinisia Hefa, 36.

The royal couple were buried in Tonga on July 21.

A San Mateo County judge has already refused to reduce Delgado's bail, but defence lawyer Randy Moore has gone to California's court of appeal in San Francisco arguing the US$3 million bail is "excessive and unconstitutional".

"Petitioner has no criminal record and has been continuously residing, attending school, and working in San Mateo County," Mr Moore wrote in his appeal.

Prince Tu'ipelehake, a nephew of 88-year-old King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, and his wife, Princess Kaimana, were being driven in a Ford Explorer when it was allegedly clipped by Delgado as she overtook at 160km/h in her white 1998 Ford Mustang.

Delgado's car was reported to have hit the driver's side of the royals' red 1998 Explorer, causing it to swerve out of control, roll several times and land on its roof along the shoulder of the highway, killing everyone inside.

All three victims were wearing seat belts but suffered massive head injuries.

Delgado stopped at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and illegal speed contest.

The California Highway Patrol said Delgado may have been racing a black Cadillac Escalade that immediately exited the highway.

The appellate court has not decided whether to hear Moore's appeal, known as a writ of habeus corpus.

Delgado is charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter and faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison if convicted.

Her next scheduled court date is September 20.

- NZPA