Bus driver sentenced

A bus driver has been sentenced to home detention for causing the deaths of three people and injuring more than 20 others. Talakai Aholelei, 66, appeared in the Waita¯kere District Court yesterday and was sentenced to 51⁄2 months of home detention and two years disqualification from driving, and to pay $36,000 in reparation. Aholelei was driving a bus with 53 people on board when it crashed down a bank about 30 kilometres south of Gisborne on Christmas Eve 2016. Sione Taumalolo, 11, and Talita Moimoi Fifita, 33, died at the scene. Leotisia Malakai, 55, died eight days later. Those on board the bus were teachers and students from the Tongan Mailefihi Siulikutapu College brass band team on their way to Gisborne’s Tongan Methodist Parish to perform at a Christmas Day fundraising event. Ritchies Transport Holdings (Ritchies Coachlines) has also been charged over the crash.

Tourist charged

A French tourist has been charged with causing a crash which hurt three people, including a woman who suffered critical injuries, at Motunui in Taranaki on January 19. The 34-yearold woman, who court documents say is from Roanne in central France, faces three charges of careless driving causing injury. The crash was on State Highway 3 and involved three vehicles.

Body found after fire

Human remains were found in a shed destroyed in a blaze in a central Otago township mid-morning on Tuesday. The occupant of the shed is understood to be an elderly, reclusive man who had lived near the small town of Lake Hawea for many years.

Woman missing

Police are concerned about a Hamilton woman who hasn’t been seen for about eight weeks. Elenoa Phillips, 48, left her home in Hamilton on December 4 about 10pm. She was driving a grey Toyota Camry and said she was visiting family. But she has not returned and was reported missing on January 8.