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Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Since Sept 27, 1879
Dutch driver admits guilt BY KURT BAYER The Dutch businessman who ran a stop sign and caused a crash that killed a woman and two girls reportedly crashed another car just hours earlier. Johannes Jacobus Appelman, 52, appeared at Christchurch District Court to admit causing the deaths of Sally Vanessa Summerfield, 49, her daughter Ella Yasmin Summerfield, 12, and Ella’s friend Abi Hone, 12, on May 31. Ms Summerfield’s 48-year-old husband Shane, who was driving, suffered serious injuries. Appelman was given a registrar’s remand three days after the crash and was due to appear next month. In a surprise appearance yesterday, he pleaded guilty to three counts of careless use of a vehicle causing death and one charge of careless use of a vehicle causing injury. Soon after, The Press newspaper reported Appelman had also crashed a different rental car on Johns Road near Christchurch Airport. The rental car company called police about the crash shortly after 1am on the Saturday of Queen’s Birthday weekend. No other cars were involved and nobody was injured. Appelman drove the damaged car back to Apex, but the company refused him a replacement, the newspaper reported. He stayed at the nearby Copthorne
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Hotel Commodore, before renting the late-model Subaru station wagon he crashed at Rakaia later the same day. Appelman received minor injuries when his car ran a stop sign at the Thompsons Track and Somerton Road intersection. His car collided with a Volvo carrying the four people from Christchurch on their way to visiting family friends at Lake Ohau. Appelman, who was represented by Christchurch lawyer Phil Shamy, stood in the dock yesterday in a sling. Appelman’s Christchurch lawyer Phil Shamy said his client was “a man of substance” who has “clearly accepted he was in the wrong”. He wanted to meet the Hone and Summerfield families when they were ready, Mr Shamy said. Mr Shamy said Appelman had no memory of the accident. “It’s simply a blank to him, however, he does accept responsibility for it,” Mr Shamy said. What happened was a moment of inattention which has had “remarkably tragic” consequences, the lawyer told the court. A bid to have his bail conditions varied yesterday was declined by Judge John Strettell. Details of the application were suppressed. Appelman was remanded on existing bail to be sentenced at Christchurch District Court on July 16. – APNZ
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