Doubt cast over how woman died
A new report into the death of a Christchurch woman has cast doubt on her partner’s version of what caused her death five years ago.
Libby Frances McKay, 27, died in Christchurch Hospital on June 14, 2013 – five days after falling from a vehicle travelling on Halswell Junction Rd.
Her partner, Michael Brown, was driving the vehicle when he said she fell and suffered fatal head injuries. He told police he did not push her from the car, and later moved to Australia.
McKay’s mother, Pauline Webby, told TVNZ’s Sunday pro- gramme she spent more than $20,000 to commission an Australian-based company, Accident Analysis, to carry out its own analysis of the crash as she was not satisfied with the police investigation.
She said the results of tests carried out, which included a reconstruction of the crash, disputed Brown’s version of events and were not consistent with the injuries her daughter suffered.
Sunday had New Zealand independent crash investigator Tim Stevenson examine the Australian report.
He told Sunday that if McKay had fallen out of a moving vehicle he would have expected her to have horrific abrasions to her exposed extremities, such as her head, knees, elbows and shoulders.
Webby said when she saw McKay in hospital there was no grazing or abrasions to her body.
Stevenson said he would have expected there to be damage to the puffer jacket and jeans that McKay was wearing at the time but tests showed there was no fibre damage to either piece of clothing consistent with her hitting the road.
‘‘Something else happened said.
Stevenson and Webby called for the investigation into McKay’s death to be reopened.
Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall has announced she will review the coronial inquest file relating to McKay’s death and has asked to see the Australian report.
Canterbury District Commander Superintendent John Price said in a statement on Friday police acknowledged aspects of the initial investigation into McKay’s death and the complexities that presented, ‘‘could have been approached differently’’.
Price sought a review of the case in March 2016, including seeking input from independent subject matter experts.
‘‘As a result, there was no evidential basis established to suggest criminality in relation to the death of Ms McKay.’’
Though the police investigation was completed, if new direction was received from the coroner’s office it would be actioned as appropriate.
A coronial services spokeswoman said if someone believed a new coronial inquiry needed to be opened because of fraud, rejection of evidence, irregularity of proceedings, or discovery of new facts, or for any other sufficient reason, they needed to apply to the Solicitor-General.
‘‘The Solicitor-General or High Court may order another inquiry be opened.’’ here,’’ he