A bus driver charged over the death of an American tourist on Mt Nicholas Station last year has changed her plea to guilty three days into her trial.
The 63-year-old Wakatipu resident, who has interim name suppression, was told by Judge Alastair Garland yesterday her decision was the "correct one".
Her counsel, Nic Soper, said he would apply for a discharge with out conviction, and submit reasons for the minimum period of disqualification from driving not to be imposed in her sentence.
Judge Garland said his decisions on those matters would be more difficult than that of the defendant’s culpability.
She is charged with careless driving causing the death of Richard Philip Hyde (73) on April 15 last year.
She was working for tourist company Southern Discoveries when she ran over Mr Hyde while reversing away from the station’s woolshed.
Mr Hyde died while being flown to Lakes District Hospital.
Judge Garland remanded the defendant at large until sentencing, likely at the end of August.
