Police have got six days to decide whether they want to pursue a manslaughter charge against a boyracer who has admitted killing the mother of ACT political candidate Aaron Keown - a crash that triggered his campaign for harsher sentences.
Arcanie Vincent Optetaia Matagi, 25, has admitted dangerous driving causing the death of Laureen Helen Reilly and dangerous driving causing injury to a man in the crash along Christchurch's Main North Road in May, the Christchurch Court News website reported.
He entered his guilty pleas on September 17, a few days after the new charge was laid and he is due to be sentenced on November 25.
Defence counsel Allister Davis said it was believed the manslaughter charge would then be withdrawn but the charge is still alive and came before a pre-depositions conference in Christchurch District Court today.
Since the plea, police have had discussions with the crown about whether to proceed.
Judge Michael Crosbie ruled that the matter was now up to police.
"They need to sort their act out," he said. "Really what I am obliged to do is literally encourage the police and the crown to take a position on this prior to sentencing."
He remanded the manslaughter charge to Wednesday for police to make inquiries about whether it should be withdrawn, given that Matagi had pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.
"The police and the crown must take a position on this charge by that date."
Matagi was said to be racing with another car on the night of the crash. The driver of the other car has already been sentenced to community work and disqualification on a dangerous driving charge.
