Christmas Day crash: Manslaughter trial underway
The manslaughter trial relating to the death of Tauranga sisters in a Christmas Day crash is now underway in Hamilton High Court.
A jury of ten men and two women has been sworn in and about 20 whanau are seated in the public gallery awaiting the opening address from crown prosector Greg Hollister-Jones.
Merepeka Morehu-Clark, 14, and Brooklyn Morehu-Clark, 13, died on Welcome Bay Rd, Tauranga when the car they were passengers in collided with a ute and rolled on December 25, 2011.
Today their mother, Phillippa Vanessa Morehu, 36, and two of their male cousins - Haki Tetuere Davey, 18, and Hetaraka Hikurangi Reihana, 20, - face two joint counts each of manslaughter.
All three have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial, presided over by Judge Murray Gilbert, is expected to take three weeks.
