A man accused of deliberately driving his car at speed at other vehicles, eventually killing a young woman, did not attempt to brake, a court was told today.
Tony Worrell, 50, of Swanson in West Auckland, is facing six charges - murder, causing grievous bodily harm, and four charges of attempted intentional damage.
Katie Powles, 26, died when Worrell's car struck her vehicle in Karaka, south of Auckland, on June 3. Another man, Brett Robinson, was also seriously injured.
Defence witnesses Constable Chris Peet and Christopher Curtis O'Neill Marks were called to give evidence today.
Qualified crash analyst Mr Peet told the court he conducted a scene examination on June 3 and 4.
The Nissan which Worrell had been driving had heavy impact damage to the front and driver's side, and damage to the rear from hitting a bridge, Mr Peet said.
A Mazda, driven by Mrs Powles, had heavy impact damage to the front driver's side. The front right wheel and suspension had been pushed back under the driver's seat. The fire service had to remove panels to get Mrs Powles out of the vehicle.
A Fiat Uno, driven by Mr Robinson, had heavy impact damage to the right front side. The right front wheel, suspension and drive shaft had come detached from the vehicle.
The front right body panels had been peeled back and were missing, with the engine only being held in by wiring and cables.
The driver had been taken out through the roof, Mr Peet told the court.
All involved in the crash were wearing seat belts, including the accused, Mr Peet said.
Mr Marks, a qualified professional mechanical engineer and forensic scientist specialising in vehicle crash analysis, said the impact speed of Worrell's Nissan when it hit Mrs Powles' Mazda was likely to be about 80kmh.
There was insufficient time and distance for either Mrs Powles or Mr Robinson to avoid crashing into Worrell's car.
The road was dry and the surface was in good condition that day, with the weather fine and clear, Mr Marks said.
There must have been some other factors to cause the Nissan to change its path after colliding with Mr Robinson's car.
Those factors included either deliberate or involuntary steering, a steering fault, or damage from the first collision affecting the steering and tyre pressures.
But both crash analysts were unable to say which.
Maurice Wogan, a community psychiatric nurse, told defence lawyer Matthew Goodwin that Worrell had been prescribed diazepam by his GP.
He told the court Worrell's wife Lynette said she did not think he had suicidal tendencies.
"He denied at that time that it was a suicide attempt. He said he did not wish to kill himself," Mr Wogan said.
