TAURANGA - The teenage driver who killed 12-year-old Simon Hunter on a pedestrian crossing in March was yesterday sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
The public gallery at the Tauranga District Court was packed with friends of David Glan Brooker, aged 18, of Mt Maunganui. Many cried as Judge Robert Spear delivered his sentence.
Brooker pleaded guilty last month to reckless driving causing the death of Simon Hunter on the Ngatai Rd crossing on March 19.
Brooker was driving his mother's Mazda RX7, which had an expired warrant of fitness and back tyres so bald that the steel casing on one was exposed.
He was illegally carrying a 19-year-old passenger while driving on a restricted licence.
Crown prosecutor Greg Hollister-Jones said Brooker and his passenger had been trying to catch up to friends also driving to a barbecue at Mt Maunganui because the other driver was going to pay Brooker's bridge toll.
About a kilometre before the pedestrian crossing, Brooker was believed to have accelerated up to 120 km/h before slamming on his brakes when he saw the boys cycle onto the crossing.
A witness told police the car had been "screaming at high speed."
The court heard that Brooker lost control of the vehicle and skidded into Simon, who died on the way to hospital in the arms of his father, Barry, a former Tauranga police district commander.
Yesterday, defence counsel Rachael Adams said Brooker had been so affected by the accident that he was unlikely to ever drive again.
Ms Adams said Brooker was a generally responsible person who had social and intellectual limitations, and appealed for a suspended sentence.
However, Judge Spear said Brooker's grossly excessive speed, previous conviction for careless driving, expired warrant of fitness and disregard of road rules and licence restrictions warranted a prison sentence.
He acknowledged Brooker's age and remorse but said it could not bring back Simon Hunter and Brooker must be punished for that.
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