THE driver of a car which ploughed into a group of party-goers killing a Burnley girl and her friend has been found guilty of their murder.
A jury in Christchurch found Lipine Sila guilty of murdering Jane Young, who emigrated to New Zealand with her family from the Ightenhill area of Burnley, and Hannah Rossiter, both 16, at a party in Christchurch last year.
He was also found guilty of eight counts of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm.
The jury, which had been deliberating for four days, believed the prosecution's account that Sila was acting out of anger and had deliberately aimed his car at the largest crowd outside the out-of-control party.
They discounted the defence's explanation that Sila had been in a panic when he was driving away from the Edgeware Road party after being assaulted.
Sila was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in July.
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