OPEN DAY BLENHEIM BRANCH 31 MAY 3pm to 7pm
Wednesday 22 May 2024 Wenerei 22 Mei 2024
Falcon friends Page 4
32 STUART STREET
Hockey’s new home Page 21
Dogs’ delight Page 12
Local Pink Shirt Day champions and Marlborough Youth Trust (MYT) staff Lee Tepuia, Maxine Sweeney and Lottie Savage have been speaking at schools across the region. Photo: William Woodworth
Story and photos Page 2
Car thief guilty of causing death TRACY NEAL He stole a blue Mercedes and drove at speed with the owner in hot pursuit. Now Kyle James Clarke has been found responsible for contributing to the crash that killed Allister Christie. Clarke, 31, was found guilty in the Blenheim District Court on Friday of reckless driving causing death and failing to stop to ascertain injury or death. The decision by Judge Jo Rielly comes after a five-day trial.
“Sadly, the pursuit ended in tragedy,” she said. Christie was chasing his S-Class Mercedes, which was stolen from outside his house the day before. Clarke had earlier admitted entering Christie’s Blenheim home on March 12, 2022, taking the keys and then the vehicle. He denied charges linked to the circumstances in which Christie died the following day. Judge Rielly has now found it was clear he had to be held responsible.
LOCALLY OWNED BY TOP SOUTH MEDIA
After the verdict, a spokeswoman for Christie’s family told Open Justice she was surprised but glad, as she felt the outcome could have gone either way. It had been a rough time adjusting to his absence. “Particularly for his wife, but for everyone, for all the family – for all who knew him. “This trial has been looming for more than two years and going through it all again now has been difficult but we have been able to fill in some missing pieces and gain a fuller
understanding of the events that took place back then.” Judge Rielly said Clarke “set the pace” and chose the path of travel. He was a local, knew the roads well and could have stopped at any point and left on foot. “He would have been able to get away, but he opted for a more dangerous way to get away.” Christie’s vehicle was later found in a deep culvert. Clarke was able to get out of the Mercedes through a rear door and swam to the bank before running
away. Judge Rielly said that, although he was injured and scared, that was not enough to have prevented him from stopping to check on the other driver. Judge Rielly entered Clarke’s convictions and scheduled a sentencing date in July. Read full story on Marlborough App.
marlboroughapp.co.nz