Family disputes cause of crash

A Royal New Zealand Air Force engineer lost consciousness, or died, while riding his motorcycle because of a delayed stroke-like reaction, after being "strangled" in a fight at a party, the coroner's court in Queenstown was told yesterday.

Four revellers associated with gang members had banded together in their story to the police, and also influenced other party-goers' statements, the mother of the dead man told coroner Alan Macalister.

The inquest into the death of Fenton William Tisdall (29), who died near Cromwell early on December 31, 2005, resumed to hear evidence from the Rev Peter Frost on behalf of the Tisdall family and counsel Sonia Vidal.

Mr Tisdall's mother Carol Tisdall and her partner David Lelliott, both of Christchurch, were in court, along with inquest officer Senior Constable Chris Blackford, of Queenstown, Crown prosecutor John Young, of Invercargill, and forensic pathologist Dr Martin Sage, of Christchurch.

Mr Frost, a Dunedin Presbyterian minister, backed the family's claim Mr Tisdall was not "grossly inebriated" on the night of his death, because he was able to control his motorcycle for about 50km without crashing, from the party in Wanaka to the scene of the crash.

Mr Frost said Mr Tisdall's speech was slurred and his behaviour changed after the assault at the Matterhorn Hotel party, but he still retained control of his body movements, which was not consistent with gross inebriation, he said.

Mr Frost said statements from close associates indicated Mr Tisdall always drank moderately and never drank and drove. The amount of alcohol he consumed on the night was in dispute and the altercation in which he became involved was "played down" in witness statements.

Snr Const Blackford referred Mr Frost to several comments in six witness statements which described Mr Tisdall's alleged intoxication.

Mr Frost said the comments "came quite some time after the events when it was known the situation was extremely serious".

Mr Young suggested Mr Tisdall was the aggressor based on some witness statements, and he lost the fight, which might account for his change in behaviour.

Mr Frost said witnesses might have altered their statements in fear of the assailant.

Mr Macalister said he did not think Mr Frost was qualified to say if serious injury came from the assault.

However, Ms Vidal said there was not sufficient evidence to suggest alcohol was the cause of the crash. Witness statements were "hearsay" and had not been tested, she said.

Mr Young said the altercation was significant, in that it changed Mr Tisdall's mindset.

"To suggest there is some conspiracy, that there is an outsider to persuade them to adopt this conspiracy, is entirely without foundation. Like most conspiracy theories, it beggars belief."

Mr Frost's "sophistic quackery" had done a disservice to the deceased and the proceedings, Mr Young said.

Mr Macalister reserved his decision and barred the media from discussing the hearing with the family.