Dunedin High and District Court Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
A Dunedin man accused of killing his partner who was critically injured after falling from a moving trailer has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Andrew Jayden Mercer appeared at the High Court on Friday, when he also pleaded guilty to refusing a compulsory impairment test.
Two other charges were withdrawn.
Robert Douglas Ralston died in hospital more than two weeks after the fall on Brockville Road on the afternoon of 29 March.
According to the summary of facts, Mercer and Ralston started arguing hours earlier that day outside a Turnbull Street house in Brockville.
At one point, Mercer drove at Ralston, who had walked into the middle of the road, before swerving and leaving.
When he returned hours later towing a trailer of firewood, the argument continued.
Ralston smashed one of the car's windows by throwing a block of firewood through it and later climbed onto the caged trailer as Mercer drove away, clinging on.
The court heard Mercer initially did not know his partner was on the trailer and was driving aggressively, but within the speed limit.
One of the trailer tyres burst and the car was swerving.
Ralston jumped off not long after Mercer turned onto Brockville Road, suffering serious head injuries when he hit the road.
The court heard Mercer was concerned about his injured partner and tried to help him.
He passed a breath-alcohol test but refused to take a compulsory impairment test, later admitting he took methamphetamine about an hour before Ralston's fall.
Ralston had brain surgery but died on 15 April.
Mercer was released on bail ahead of his sentencing in December.
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