Dunedin man denied parole is 'haunted' by Invercargill teen's crash death

Shay Robert Richards was denied parole earlier this month. Photo / Otago Daily Times

A Dunedin man says he is "haunted" by the death of a young Invercargill woman who was in a car he was driving when it was involved in a central-city crash.

Shay Robert Richards (21) was denied parole earlier this month because his release posed "undue risk" to the community, Parole Board convenor Judge Neil MacLean said.

Richards is serving three years and three months in prison for his role in the crash, which killed 18-year-old Nakita Strange, at the intersection of Hope and Stafford Sts in July 2015.

He was jailed on a count of reckless driving causing death, three of reckless driving causing injury and one of theft.

Shortly before the crash, the car was involved in a petrol drive-off from a central city service station.

"Basically Mr Richards became involved in a stupid theft of petrol and [his] consequent fleeing from the petrol station with reckless driving, including driving at speed down a one-way system, [led] to [the] death of one of the passengers of the crash," MacLean's judgment said.

Richards and Strange were in the same car with several others when it collided with a ute at the intersection. The driver of the ute performed CPR on Ms Strange, but she died soon after.

MacLean's judgement said Richards told the Parole Board he had been "haunted by the death of the victim".

He was "motivated" to rehabilitate himself and had done a joinery course and obtained a forklift licence while in prison.

MacLean said Richards was at medium risk of reoffending and high risk of causing harm, "as evidenced by the consequences" of the 2015 crash.

"It is clear at this stage that there is considerable work to be done."

Richards appealed the sentence in June last year, believing it was excessive, but was not successful.

He will reappear before the Parole Board in April 2019.