A father has pleaded guilty after smashing his ute into a tree drunk – killing his wife, daughter and a family friend.
Russell Stewart previously pleaded not guilty to causing the death of his wife Susanna (pictured)
Russell Stewart, 49, was expected to face trial on Tuesday for charges of careless driving causing death, careless driving causing injury and being under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failing to stop, Stuff reported.
Stewart previously pleaded not guilty to causing the deaths of his wife Susanna, 48, his 16-year-old daughter Sadie and family friend James Wearmouth, 18, in the crash in Northland, New Zealand on June 6, 2016.
He pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and careless driving causing injury on Tuesday before his trial was set to start in Whangarei District Court on Tuesday.
The charges of failing to stop at a crash scene and driving under the influence were dropped.
His 16-year-old daughter Sadie (right) and family friend James Wearmouth, 18,were also killed in the crash
Stewart had eight passengers in the ute he was driving when it crashed into a tree north of Dargaville in 2016.
Four other people were injured in the crash, including Stewart’s eldest son George.
Russell Stewart, 49, was expected to face trial on Tuesday for charges of careless driving causing death, careless driving causing injury and being under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failing to stop
All the passengers were members of the Exclusive Brethren, a wealthy Christian sect known for privacy.
Stewart was supported by members of the group – now renamed the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church – when he appeared in court.
He was remanded on bail, and will appear in the Whangarei District Court in February.
All the passengers of the ute (pictured) were members of the Exclusive Brethren, a wealthy Christian sect known for privacy