Convicted drink driver in court

A Waikato man convicted of manslaughter after a high speed head-on collision in Tauriko that killed a 37-year-old man in 2008 was back in court this week facing more charges stemming from the crash.

Anthony James White was found guilty of manslaughter and two counts of dangerous driving causing death at trial and was sentenced to six and a half years in jail.

He appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Monday charged with driving while disqualified and driving with excess breath alcohol.

Police say White, who was 21 at the time of the crash, was driving the Subaru Impreza which crashed into Meghan Bowker’s Volkswagen on August 2, 2008.

However, White has maintained he was not driving the car when it crashed.

Andrew Opin, 37, from Te Kauwahata, died at the scene.

Fellow passenger Eligh Smith received a broken ankle and superficial head injuries, while Meghan suffered internal and head injuries.

At the time of White’s trial in the High Court at Rotorua, a jury rejected his claim that front-seat passenger Eligh was the driver at the time of the crash.

After a lengthy court battle, White appeared in court this week where his lawyer said he was no longer contesting police evidence, however, he was unable to plead guilty to the charge as he still maintains he wasn’t driving at the time of the crash.

Judge Peter Rollo says after he reviewed all the evidence before him he was satisfied that the charges had been proven.

White was convicted of both charges and disqualified for a further six months from December 4 when his current disqualification is due to end.