An Oamaru police constable was fined in the Oamaru District Court yesterday, after admitting a charge of careless driving.
Gary Tuhuru Mahuika (39), of Weston, previously denied the charge, which went to a defended hearing before Judge Alistair Garland yesterday.
After admitting careless driving on May 19, 2011, in West View Dr, Weston, Mahuika was fined $350, court costs $132.89, and witness expenses of $25.
The plea change came after Judge Garland requested to speak to the defendant and prosecutor in chambers, about two hours after the hearing started, and during the evidence of the second of five prosecution witnesses.
Judge Garland became visibly frustrated with Mahuika, who was defending himself.
While cross-examining witnesses, Mahuika indicated the reason his vehicle had left the road and crashed into a tree was that he was "full-beamed" on a bend by a four-wheel drive vehicle. He contended the vehicle was on the old railway track running parallel to the road, which the prosecution did not accept.
Judge Garland repeatedly pulled the defendant up on procedural matters, telling him the case risked lasting "days" rather than "hours".
"Mr Mahuika, this is difficult. You are trying to do this yourself and I expect you think you can do it yourself, but you're not doing a very good job of it, to be honest.
"You might be a good policeman, but you're not a good lawyer."