14 Apr 2015

Tourist driver admits charges over child's death

5:42 pm on 14 April 2015

A Chinese tourist has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges over the crash that killed a five-year-old Oamaru girl.

Jing Cao

Jing Cao Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer

Jing Cao, 32 appeared at Dunedin District Court this morning and admitted charges of dangerous driving causing death and five counts of dangerous driving causing injury.

Ruby Marris was killed and her parents and older sisters seriously injured in the head-on collision near Moeraki on 21 February. Cao was driving on the wrong side of the road.

Judge Phillips told Cao his offending was at the higher end of the scale and that he should prepare himself accordingly for a custodial sentence.

Defence lawyer Anne Stevens called for home detention but Judge Phillips said a full time custodial sentence would send a stronger message.

He was remanded on bail until 9 June for sentencing.