Man took sleeping pills before crash
A Dunedin father and road-safety advocate has admitted crashing his car on the motorway, wiping out 200m of the wire barrier.
Mark David Cummings, 49, appeared in the Dunedin District Court last week and pleaded guilty to threatening to kill, posting harmful digital communication, possessing cannabis, two charges of assaulting police, two charges of resisting police, two charges of speaking threateningly and refusing to undergo a compulsory impairment test.
In 2019, the defendant's 15-year-old daughter Jayde Amy Cummings was killed instantly when the driver of the ute she was in failed to stop at the intersection of Church Rd West and Huntly Rd, in Outram.
The incident resulted in a prolonged road safety campaign by Cummings and he was vindicated by a coroner's report last year.
The police summary revealed that on March 22, Cummings was driving his Ford Ranger south on Dunedin's Southern Motorway.
He drifted into the metal wire centre barrier and witnesses said he made no attempt to brake.
About 200m of the centre barrier was wiped out, and his vehicle became entangled in the wire.
While being transported to Dunedin Central Police Station, Cummings was falling asleep.
He admitted to officers he had taken 10 sleeping pills and used cannabis before driving.
About 8pm Cummings was taken back to his home but 30 minutes later he showed up at his mother's house, acting aggressively, and police were called again.
When they arrived, the defendant yelled at them before a struggle ensued between him and two constables.
Once police restrained him, he was found to be holding a lighter and a small bag with 0.78g of cannabis.
Cummings told one officer that he would remember him, he was going to "get it" and he would "make him pay".
Police assisted the defendant to regain his balance before he put his feet on to the couch and jumped back in an attempt to "body slam" the constable into the wall.
Back at the police station Cummings continued to be belligerent and attempted to rip two pairs of underwear.
Yesterday, the defendant also admitted that on February 9 he posted a threatening message on his Facebook profile which ended with "I will see u soon c...".
The next month, he turned up at the victim's place of work, smacked the corner of his desk and said "10 grand on the corner of this f...ing desk by 4 o'clock today, or else I am going to break your kneecaps and whatever else I have to. The boys will be here as well".
Cummings was remanded on bail and scheduled to appear for sentencing in October.
In December 2021, Cummings was sentenced to nine months' intensive supervision after he used a wooden baton to smash a hole in a lawyer's office and damaged the Dunedin City Council building.
The outburst was a response to reading a media article that the teen driver who caused his daughter's death had been discharged by the Youth Court.
At the time, Judge Evangelos Thomas told Cummings: "Nobody can hold your grief or your rage against you ".
felicity.dear@odt.co.nz , Court reporter
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Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
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Road-safety advocate took sleeping pills before crash
A Dunedin father and road-safety advocate has admitted crashing his car on the motorway, wiping out 200m of the wire barrier. Mark David Cummings, 49, appeared in the Dunedin District Court last week and pleaded guilty to threatening to kill, posting harmful digital communication, possessing cannabis, two charges of assaulting police, two charges of resisting police, two charges of speaking threateningly and refusing to undergo a compulsory impairment test. In 2019, the defendant's 15-year-old daughter Jayde Amy Cummings was killed instantly when the driver of the ute she was in failed to stop at the intersection of Church Rd West and Huntly Rd, in Outram. The incident resulted in a prolonged road safety campaign by Cummings and he was vindicated by a coroner's report last year. The police summary revealed that on March 22, Cummings was driving his Ford Ranger south on Dunedin's Southern Motorway. He drifted into the metal wire centre barrier and witnesses said he made no attempt to brake. About 200m of the centre barrier was wiped out, and his vehicle became entangled in the wire. While being transported to Dunedin Central Police Station, Cummings was falling asleep. He admitted to officers he had taken 10 sleeping pills and used cannabis before driving. About 8pm Cummings was taken back to his home but 30 minutes later he showed up at his mother's house, acting aggressively, and police were called again. When they arrived, the defendant yelled at them before a struggle ensued between him and two constables. Once police restrained him, he was found to be holding a lighter and a small bag with 0.78g of cannabis. Cummings told one officer that he would remember him, he was going to "get it" and he would "make him pay". Police assisted the defendant to regain his balance before he put his feet on to the couch and jumped back in an attempt to "body slam" the constable into the wall. Back at the police station Cummings continued to be belligerent and attempted to rip two pairs of underwear. Yesterday, the defendant also admitted that on February 9 he posted a threatening message on his Facebook profile which ended with "I will see u soon c...". The next month, he turned up at the victim's place of work, smacked the corner of his desk and said "10 grand on the corner of this desk by 4 o'clock today, or else I am going to break your kneecaps and whatever else I have to. The boys will be here as well". Cummings was remanded on bail and scheduled to appear for sentencing in October. In December 2021, Cummings was sentenced to nine months' intensive supervision after he used a wooden baton to smash a hole in a lawyer's office and damaged the Dunedin City Council building. The outburst was a response to reading a media article that the teen driver who caused his daughter's death had been discharged by the Youth Court. At the time, Judge Evangelos Thomas told Cummings: "Nobody can hold your grief or your rage against you ". , Court reporter
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
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Man took sleeping pills before crash
A Dunedin father and road-safety advocate has admitted crashing his car on the motorway, wiping out 200m of the wire barrier. Mark David Cummings, 49, appeared in the Dunedin District Court last week and pleaded guilty to threatening to kill, posting harmful digital communication, possessing cannabis, two charges of assaulting police, two charges of resisting police, two charges of speaking threateningly and refusing to undergo a compulsory impairment test. In 2019, the defendant's 15-year-old daughter Jayde Amy Cummings was killed instantly when the driver of the ute she was in failed to stop at the intersection of Church Rd West and Huntly Rd, in Outram. The incident resulted in a prolonged road safety campaign by Cummings and he was vindicated by a coroner's report last year. The police summary revealed that on March 22, Cummings was driving his Ford Ranger south on Dunedin's Southern Motorway. He drifted into the metal wire centre barrier and witnesses said he made no attempt to brake. About 200m of the centre barrier was wiped out, and his vehicle became entangled in the wire. While being transported to Dunedin Central Police Station, Cummings was falling asleep. He admitted to officers he had taken 10 sleeping pills and used cannabis before driving. About 8pm Cummings was taken back to his home but 30 minutes later he showed up at his mother's house, acting aggressively, and police were called again. When they arrived, the defendant yelled at them before a struggle ensued between him and two constables. Once police restrained him, he was found to be holding a lighter and a small bag with 0.78g of cannabis. Cummings told one officer that he would remember him, he was going to "get it" and he would "make him pay". Police assisted the defendant to regain his balance before he put his feet on to the couch and jumped back in an attempt to "body slam" the constable into the wall. Back at the police station Cummings continued to be belligerent and attempted to rip two pairs of underwear. Yesterday, the defendant also admitted that on February 9 he posted a threatening message on his Facebook profile which ended with "I will see u soon c...". The next month, he turned up at the victim's place of work, smacked the corner of his desk and said "10 grand on the corner of this desk by 4 o'clock today, or else I am going to break your kneecaps and whatever else I have to. The boys will be here as well". Cummings was remanded on bail and scheduled to appear for sentencing in October. In December 2021, Cummings was sentenced to nine months' intensive supervision after he used a wooden baton to smash a hole in a lawyer's office and damaged the Dunedin City Council building. The outburst was a response to reading a media article that the teen driver who caused his daughter's death had been discharged by the Youth Court. At the time, Judge Evangelos Thomas told Cummings: "Nobody can hold your grief or your rage against you ". , Court reporter
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When asked what she would call picking mushrooms for food, she said: 'Pick and eat.' She maintained she never used the word 'mushrooming' and would have said 'foraged' if that's what she meant. Patterson denies the charges and the trial continues next week. ADVERTISEMENT Aziz Al Sa'afin looks at the key questions in the trial Aziz Al Sa'afin answers your most asked questions about the mushroom trial (Source: 1News) Who is Erin Patterson and what is this trial about? Erin Patterson is a 50-year-old woman from Leongatha, Victoria, who is accused of murdering her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson. She is also charged with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor who survived the same meal. All four guests became seriously ill after eating a beef wellington lunch prepared at Patterson's home in July 2023. What is she accused of doing? Prosecutors allege that Patterson used death cap mushrooms - one of the most poisonous fungi in the world - in the meal she served her guests. The Crown claims she knowingly poisoned them. The Defence says it was a tragic accident and Patterson has pleaded not guilty to all charges. What are death cap mushrooms? ADVERTISEMENT Death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides) are deadly fungi that can be easily mistaken for edible varieties. Even a small amount can cause liver failure or death. They are not typically sold in stores and are often found in the wild. Cooking them does not neutralise their toxicity. What has Erin Patterson said in court? She has told the jury that she did not mean to harm anyone and believes the poisoning was a tragic accident. She admitted to lying in a police interview about foraging mushrooms and using a food dehydrator, which she later dumped. She said she panicked and was scared she'd be blamed. Why does she say she lied to police? Patterson has admitted to lying about key details during her initial police interview. She said she was overwhelmed and frightened, particularly after learning two of her guests had died. She told the court: 'It was a stupid kneejerk reaction… I was scared, but I shouldn't have done it.' What does the prosecution say? The prosecution has accused Patterson of deliberately cooking with death cap mushrooms and trying to cover her tracks. They've pointed to deleted photos, dumped kitchen equipment, and online searches they allege were used to create a convincing cover story, including a lie about having cancer. ADVERTISEMENT What has she said about the cancer claim? Patterson admitted lying to her lunch guests about having cancer. She told the court she said it to cover up a planned weight-loss surgery and described feeling ashamed of her body. The prosecution says she researched cancer online to make her story more believable. Patterson denies that. 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What if Erin Patterson is found guilty? ADVERTISEMENT If found guilty of murder, Patterson faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The judge would determine her sentence at a later date. What happens if Erin Patterson is found not guilty? If Patterson is found not guilty, she will be acquitted of the charges and released from custody. An acquittal means the jury was not satisfied of her guilt beyond reasonable doubt and that the legal threshold for conviction was not met. What happens next? The trial is ongoing and has now lasted for six weeks. Cross-examination is underway, and Patterson is expected to remain on the stand into next week. Closing arguments will follow, then final instructions from the judge before the jury deliberates. The trial could stretch into late June.
