Inez and Harry Johns are taking life one day at a time since a drink driver crashed into their car. Photo/John Borren
Inez and Harry Johns are taking life one day at a time since a drink driver crashed into their car. Photo/John Borren
A drink driver who left an elderly couple housebound had her sentencing adjourned so a restorative justice report could be prepared.
Belinda Ingarangi Gordon, 45, appeared briefly in Tauranga District Court yesterday. Her case was adjourned after her lawyer explained she had taken part in a restorative justice conference butthe report had not yet been prepared. She will be sentenced on May 2.
Harry and Inez Johns were driving to their dancing group when Gordon allegedly to have drunk a bottle of wine and climbed behind the wheel, crashing into them.
The crash nearly cost Mrs Johns, 80, her life, leaving her with such severe injuries that she was only released from Tauranga Hospital 10 weeks after the crash. Mr Johns was still wearing a brace to support his broken neck.
In an interview with the Bay of Plenty Times, the couple said it would be 12 to 18 months before they would be able to return to dancing. Read more of their story here.
