METRONEWS
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Christchurch truck driver encounters a court room filled with threats

James Fleury
Court
Christchurch District Court  Isaac Gunson

Casey James Winter encountered threats from an angry group at court today after pleading guilty to three counts of careless driving causing injury and two counts of careless driving causing death.

The 22-year-old man appeared in the Christchurch District Court for the second time after 12-year-old Ezekiel Tanielu-Loua and 35-year-old Fulumoa Daly lost their lives in April last year when Winter hit the family's vehicle after failing to stop at a red light on Yaldhurst road. 

Sefulu Teevale-Daly, 36, and two three-year-old boys were severely injured in the crash.  

Winter was driving a yellow Isuzu truck and said he thought the traffic light was green.  

Supporters of the victims abused Winter when he stepped out of the dock in court. 

Judge Tony Couch said it was an issue whether Winter should be driving or not and was concerned with the sensitive circumstances surrounding the case.  

These are tragic and difficult manners to deal with. 

Judge Couch said Winter’s driving that evening was a nature of carelessness, nothing else.  

Winter was remanded on bail for sentencing on November 27.

After the court appearance, Winter was let out of the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct through the police station, to avoid the crowd which was waiting outside.