The pregnant mother of a seven-year-old girl, killed when hit by a motorcyclist near Turangi last year, wept openly when the man accused of causing her death appeared in Taupo District Court today.
Eric William Lowe, a 55-year-old builder from the western Bay of Plenty, is charged with operating a vehicle carelessly and causing the death of seven-year-old Raukura Pryor in March last year.
Police allege Lowe rode his motorcycle on the wrong side of State Highway 46 and did not take evasive action to avoid a group of children who would have been visible from at least 90m away.
Raukura was riding her bicycle when she and the motorcycle collided. She was killed instantly and Lowe received moderate injuries in the crash and was flown to Rotorua Hospital.
Lowe initially represented himself today and entered a not guilty plea.
However, after a suggestion by Judge Chris McGuire, Lowe sought legal advice from a duty solicitor.
The case will be recalled on September 23 and a full hearing will take place on November 17.
Raukura's mother is due to give birth towards the end of next month.
Judge McGuire said that the sooner there was a conclusion to the matter, the better it would be for the defendant and for the dead girl's family.
