Threats thrown at killer driver
A group at court threatened a truck driver who admitted running a red light in a crash that killed two and injured three members of a family in Christchurch.
One of the group could be heard saying ‘‘you are dead’’ to the driver after he stepped out of the dock at the Christchurch District Court yesterday.
Casey James Winter, 22, pleaded guilty to charges of careless driving causing the deaths of Fulumoa Daly, 35, and his 12-year-old nephew, Ezekiel Tanielu-Loua, and causing injury to three other people. Judge Tony Couch remanded him on bail for sentencing on November 27.
Court security staff stepped in and kept Winter safe in court but one of the group still managed to ruffle his hair as he sat in the public seats while waiting for his bail papers.
Other members of the group, who were wearing red shirts in honour of Ezekiel, then approached him, crouched down and comforted
Associates of the driver were sobbing as the ugly incident unfolded, while security staff ushered the red-clad group out of the court, and watched while they left the courts.
him, asking if he was all right. Associates of the driver were sobbing as the ugly incident unfolded, while security staff ushered the group out of the court, and watched while they left the courts.
Winter was escorted through the police station to avoid the crowd.
The crash happened soon after midnight on April 5, at the corner of Yaldhurst and Russley roads, when a truck crashed into a car at the light-controlled intersection.
Daly worked as a site traffic management supervisor at City Care.
The car also contained his wife, Sefulu Annie Teevale-Daly, his 4-year-old son, Zion Benet Taliauli, and his 4-year-old nephew, Zachariah David Fuata’i, who were all injured.
Police said Winter was driving a truck travelling east on Yaldhurst Rd. The car containing the family entered the intersection with Russley Rd on a green light.
Winter drove through the red light, hitting the car and killing Daly and Ezekiel.
Teevale-Daly, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, suffered skull bruising and a lumbar spine fracture. Zion and Zachariah, both sitting in the back, received skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries and were taken to Starship children’s hospital in Auckland in critical condition.
Winter told police he thought the light was green.
The judge referred the case for a restorative justice conference with the victims’ families, and a long sentencing slot has been set aside for victim impact statements to be read.