24 Nov 2014

Teen charged over framing dead friend

5:41 pm on 24 November 2014

The grandfather of a 16-year-old killed in a car crash in July says the arrest of another teenager for framing his grandson comes as little surprise.

Cheyenne Ihaka was killed when the car he was travelling in hit an oncoming vehicle on State Highway 2 near Palmerston North.

At the time, police said Mr Ihaka was behind the wheel and that alcohol was a factor.

But today, they announced the arrest of a 17-year-old charged with staging the crash scene to make it look like Mr Ihaka was the one driving.

Mr Ihaka's grandfather, Alan Ihaka, said his family felt vindicated in doubting the original police report.

"This is the first news we've had about it and we were a bit concerned at the time. We thought it was unusual that he was driving," he said.

"Just the situation he was in with the other chap who was with him, we thought everything seemed a bit unusual. I reckon it's good news."

The 17-year-old Tararua man will appear in the Palmerston North District Court tomorrow facing careless driving charges and perverting the course of justice.