The family of a man killed by a drunk and disqualified driver on the Hawkes Bay Expressway were dismayed at the sentence handed down to the driver in the Napier District Court yesterday.
Noel Martin Spencer, 33, a builder's labourer from Hastings, was sentenced by Judge Tony Adeane to 2 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of disqualified driving and causing the death of Hastings man Aston Kawana while driving drunk.
Lorane Stevens, Mr Kawana's mother, leaped up as Spencer was led from the court and shouted at him. She said afterwards she was furious at the prison term. "So Aston's life was worth 2 1/2 years."
Ms Stevens said she wanted to read a statement to Spencer in court, but was not given the opportunity. What had happened could never be forgotten or forgiven, she said.
Her statement described Mr Kawana as "loving and loved, respectful and respected, and protective of his sisters and me".
Mr Kawana was killed in the early hours of May 30 when Spencer lost control of his car and crashed while attempting to overtake another vehicle. As the car slid sideways along the road, it struck Mr Kawana, who was walking home in the dark and sent him flying into a ditch.
Police estimated the speed of Spencer's car at the point of impact was 120 km/h.
Emergency services staff searched the ditch around Spencer's car, unaware a man was lying dead 50m away.
Mr Kawana's family reported him missing several days later and his body was found on June 11.
Tests revealed Spencer had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood when the accident happened. He told police he had no recollection of most of the night.
A police summary of facts said Spencer had been warned by friends not to drive home after spending the afternoon and evening drinking. After an argument, Spencer took his keys and drove off towards Napier.
Ms Stevens said the family planned to hold Mr Kawana's 21st birthday party at his graveside next year.
- NZPA
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