A man who allegedly grabbed the steering wheel of a car in which he was a front-seat passenger, swerving it into an oncoming bus, had done it before, a jury has been told.
However, this time the consequences were fatal and three people died.
Worthy Redeemed, formerly known as Lee Errol Silvester, pleaded not guilty to 10 charges in the High Court at Wellington today.
The 39-year-old is charged with the manslaughter of Dean Jonathan McCartney, 21, Jethro Bronson Cooper, 16, and Kodee Marie Rapana, 15, by moving the steering wheel of a vehicle in which he was a passenger, causing it to veer into the path of an oncoming bus on May 1 last year near Woodend north of Christchurch.
He also faces three further charges of dangerous driving causing death, one causing grievous bodily harm with reckless disregard, and three charges of injuring with reckless disregard.
Redeemed and back-seat passenger Reece James Dick-Durham survived the crash.
Mr Dick-Durham will take the stand during the five-day trial.
A jury of five men and seven woman this morning heard the Crown and defence's opening statements as Redeemed stood in the dock with cropped hair and "Praise God'' tattooed across the front of his neck.
Crown lawyer Claire Boshier said Redeemed deliberately steered the car into the path of an oncoming bus.
"This trial is about a moment in time when this accused made a deliberate decision which took the lives of three people,'' she said.
Ms Boshier told the jury of another time when Mr Dick-Durham was in the car and Redeemed leaned over and moved the steering wheel so the car swerved onto the other side of the road.
He allegedly said "I could end it now''.
"When he made the comment a large truck had only just passed them.''
In a statement to police Redeemed initially said this was not true, but later said he was driving and was "just mucking around'', Ms Boshier said.
However, lawyer for the accused James Rapley said Mr Dick-Durham was mistaken and had mixed up the two events.
"The defence says this act [of driving into the path of the oncoming bus] did not happen.''
The trial has been moved to Wellington from Christchurch because of earthquake damage to the court building and 21 Crown witnesses are due to give evidence.
