Teenagers plead guilty to reduced charges in crash that left police officer critically injured
Two youths appeared before the Palmerston North Youth Court, accepting responsibility for a reduced set of offences linked to an August crash that seriously wounded a police officer.
In a Youth Court hearing in Palmerston North, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old who were charged after an August collision accepted responsibility for two reduced charges after three of the original five counts were dropped. The incident happened on Kairanga Bunnythorpe Road when police had laid road spikes to stop a fleeing driver, leading to a vehicle striking the officer’s car and sending him flying into another vehicle.
The officer was airlifted to Wellington Hospital in a critical state; his condition has since improved significantly and he thanked the community for their support. The younger teen was released on bail with a curfew from 5 pm to 8 am, a prohibition on contacting the other defendant, and a ban on social media, and will attend a Family Group Conference before a November hearing. The older teen received a 24-hour curfew with limited exceptions, similar contact restrictions, and will appear again in December after also being directed to a Family Group Conference. Judge Caroline Hickman presided over the proceedings.
Why it matters
The case shows how New Zealand's youth justice system handles serious traffic offenses involving police officers.
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