Teen's assault charge withdrawn

31st March 2007

The teenager charged with assaulting the driver of a car which hit and dragged a girl 300m in August, has had the charge withdrawn during a depositions hearing, but her family are angry she was not vindicated.

Whitley Eva Deneice Angelique Mareikura, 18, appeared in Hastings District Court on Wednesday.

She was charged with assaulting the driver with intent to injure.

Her two co-accused both 15, who have permanent name suppression, did not deny their role in the assault when they appeared in Hastings Youth Court last year.

Mareikura, who was a member of the Hawke's Bay senior women's rugby training squad, was 17 at the time of the incident, thereby falling under district court jurisdiction.

It was alleged Mareikura and her two co-accused assaulted the 17-year-old driver who then fled in her car from outside Hastings Boys' High School.

The incident happened after the regional final of the national Search for the Stars competition on August 24.

The driver hit a bystander, dragging her under the car for 300m.

At the depositions hearing on Wednesday, the charge against Mareikura was withdrawn without prejudice.

Police persecutor Terry Singh said while Mareikura could be placed at the scene, witnesses could not be certain that she struck the victim.

Police then withdrew the charge.

At home after the hearing, her father Porky Mareikura said the past months had been "living hell" and there was still no resolution.

Under the Summary Proceeding Act police can relay the charge if new evidence came to light.

He said his daughter had nothing to do with the assault, and was angry that she was not vindicated - because police withdrew the charge before the court could dismiss it for insufficient evidence.

"By all means my daughter is no angel, sometimes she shows me maturity beyond her years, other times she is a normal teenager."

However, she was active in her church, and had never been in trouble with the police before.

He said the family wanted to have their day in court and move on but believed they would be living in limbo.

Mr Singh said it was "completely unlikely" police would relay the charge.