Quadruple fatal car crash trial starts today

The trial of two men charged in relation to alleged street racing that ended in the deaths of four people south of Hamilton in June

2016 will begin today..

Dylan Cossey, 20, allegedly left the scene of the crash near Hamilton Airport with Stephen John Jones, 20, in the passenger seat.

The pair are facing four counts each of manslaughter – charges that were upgraded by the Crown in March last year. Cossey had originally been charged with street racing on Ohaupo Road on June 24, causing the death of Hannah Leis Strickett-Craze, 24, Lance Tyrone Robinson, 28, and Paul De Silva, 20, from Waipa, and Jason McCormick Ross, 19, from Taranaki.

The white Nissan Skyline the victims were travelling in collided with an oncoming van about

10pm. All four victims died at the scene. Cossey is also charged with causing injury to van driver Matthew Scheepers and failing to stop to ascertain injury.

Scheepers suffered multiple leg fractures and had to be cut out of his van.

Jones was initially charged with inciting Cossey to drive ‘‘in an unnecessary exhibition of speed or acceleration’’ and thereby causing the death of the four. That charge, along with other earlier charges for both, have yet to be formally withdrawn.

About 37 witnesses have been briefed to give evidence during the trial, which is set down for nine days in the High Court in Hamilton.

The defendants have two of Hamilton’s top lawyers acting on their behalf. Cossey has enlisted the services of Philip Morgan QC, while Jones has Russell Boot – currently the Waikato/Bay of Plenty branch president of the New Zealand Law Society – as his counsel.

Police launched a major investigation after the crash, including a public appeal for information.

Cossey and Jones were charged on November 8, 2016. They made their first appearance in court on December 13 of that year.