A former Tauranga doctor caught drink-driving at more than twice the legal limit has failed in her bid to not have a conviction on her record.
Lisa Catherine Edwards, 40, appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday, having earlier been found guilty of driving with a breath alcohol limit of 876mcgs.
As Judge Louis Bidois declined her attempt for a discharge without conviction, Edwards' face dropped.
She had fought the charge since she was arrested on July 30 last year, after attempting to drive home to Tauranga's Devonport Towers from a Mt Maunganui bar.
At the defended hearing she said she drank three standard glasses of wine and two small glasses of port less than four hours' earlier but did not think she was intoxicated.
Edwards challenged the validity of the prosecution's evidence, claiming the arresting officer had breached the Bill of Rights and not carried out the necessary legal steps in her arrest.
However, the officer was found to have done everything by the book. Edwards' counsel Bill Nabney said a conviction would affect his client's career prospects overseas.
Mr Nabney also questioned the amount of media interest in Edwards' case.
"Why is there so much media attention on a female professional trying to do well when there does not seem to be for her male counterparts?"
Judge Bidois quickly responded "Because she's fighting it."
"If she just fronted up and said 'I made a stupid mistake' then we can all deal with it. You can't complain about media attention because that's what drives half of it, whereas it could have all been over in a day," Judge Bidois said.
Police prosecutor David Pawson argued the court had to display "consistency".
"Everyday people come through the Tauranga District Court and many courts across New Zealand. It's a conveyor belt of EBAs [excess breath alcohol] - from the kiwifruit picker from Te Puke to storemen and freezing workers," Mr Pawson said.
"Whoever you are you have to face conviction. They get convicted everyday and lose their jobs. Is this a doctor who is getting diversion because she can afford counsel?
"It's a bit of a Campese side step for her to get away with a discharge without conviction."
Judge Bidois said that Edwards, as a doctor, should have known a drink driving conviction would affect her career in the same way a truck driver should know it would affect theirs. A conviction meant Edwards would still be able to work overseas but it would be more difficult, Judge Bidois said.
Edwards was convicted and fined $900 plus court costs. Edwards was a senior union negotiator and vice-president for the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association (NZRDA).
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