Mother acquitted in manslaughter trial

A jury acquitted the two remaining accused in the manslaughter trial relating to the deaths of two Tauranga sisters killed in a high speed crash in 2011.

Phillippa Vanessa Morehu, 37, who is the girls' mother, and their cousin, Haki Tetuere Davey, 18, were found not guilty on two counts each of manslaughter by jury in Hamilton High Court today.

The third accused Hetaraka Reihana, who was the driver of the vehicle that crashed on Welcome Bay Rd, killing his two cousins, Brooklyn, 13, and Merepeka Morehu-Clark, 14, pleaded guilty to the same two counts yesterday.

The Crown had alleged Morehu and Davey were racing Reihana reaching speeds of more than 100 km/h before the crash.

A police crash analyst estimated Reihana had been speeding at 142km/h before the crash.

Both victims, who were not wearing seatbelts, died at the scene after they were flung from the car.

Reihana will be sentenced on May 31.