4x4 DEATH DRIVER IS CLEARED; Scot's mum hits out.Byline: Alan Carson A DRIVER has been cleared of killing his Scots friend in an' off-roading tragedy in New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. . Liam Brook, 22, died when a 4x4 rolled on him as it plunged down a hill on the country's south island. His friend Dale Jefcoate was on trial over the accident which happened last May incident near rural Waikaia. But a judge yesterday dismissed a charge against the 28-year-old. Afterwards Liam's devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. mum spoke of her shock that no one will be held accountable for his death. Helen Brook said: "Is there no justice here? There needs to be a lesson learnt from this for everyone. "It's like nothing's happened but my son's dead." Liam grew up in Rannoch, Perthshire, and emigrated to New Zealand with his mum three years ago. He was one of three passengers in the vehicle. Jefcoate, 28, tried to climb a steep hill Steep Hill is a popular tourist street in the historic city of Lincoln, UK. At the top of the hill you will find the entrance to the Cathedral and at the bottom is Well Lane. The Hill consists of independent shops, tea rooms and pubs. but the 4x4 lost traction and started to slide. Gore district court heard all four men jumped out of the vehicle. No one had been wearing seat belts. Jefcoate denied operating a vehicle carelessly, causing the death during the two day hearing. Yesterday Judge Graeme Noble dismissed the charge in a written judgment - but said the case was very finely balanced. He claimed if it had been a civil case it is likely that Jefcoate would have been held responsible. |
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