Woman admits guilt of hit-and-run killing man
A woman has pleaded guilty over a hit-and-run that killed a Christchurch man as he walked his dogs.
Timaimi Tuilawa, 56, pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court yesterday before Judge Tom Gilbert, to failing to stop to ascertain injury after she struck 30-year-old Steffan PearceLoe near the Gayhurst Rd bridge about 2.30am on July 5.
According to the police summary of facts, Tuilawa hit PearceLoe as he was walking his dogs from the median strip into the northbound lane where she was travelling.
Tuilawa heard the collision but continued north to her home without stopping. A member of the public found Pearce-Loe minutes later. He died from significant head injuries the following day.
An ‘‘eagle-eyed’’ detective found the car two days after the crash, several kilometres from the scene. Police seized the car and forensically examined it, finding damage on the driver’s side front bumper and mirror.
Tuilawa told police she had visited a friend’s home about 9.30pm on the night of the crash, then fell asleep. When she woke about 2.30am, she got into her car to drive home. As she passed over the Gayhurst Rd bridge, she thought she had hit a dog, but was ‘‘too scared to check’’ due to the time of morning and location.
Tuilawa’s lawyer, James Rapley, said the collision was a ‘‘tragedy for everyone concerned’’.
Pearce-Loe’s fiancee and family were seated in the courtroom, with a large number of Tuilawa’s family also present.
Tuilawa will be sentenced on May 9.
Pearce-Loe’s friend Jeremy Teague earlier said the 30-yearold was a ‘‘highly experienced’’ bicycle messenger.
‘‘He rode tall, strong, fast and with great skill and control. His energy, intelligence, motivation, quirkiness, lust for living life, love of people and Steffan-ness will be remembered for as long we all live.’’