Email standoff over vodka death

Charles and Penny Webster have been investigating the binge-drinking death of their son James. Photo / Dean Purcell

The parents of a teenager believed to have supplied the vodka involved in King's College student James Webster's binge-drinking death have been labelled "bankrupt of any morality".

The uncle of 16-year-old James Webster - whose death reignited the debate over teenage binge-drinking - said the parents of the other teenager had hired a lawyer and were not speaking to the Webster family "just to save their kid's arse".

"They've got something to hide - I just don't know what it is," Donald Webster said.

He and James' parents, Charles and Penny Webster, have been investigating the teenager's death since he drank a third of a bottle of vodka at a birthday party in May and could not be roused in the morning.

They have decided not to name the teen who is understood to have supplied the liquor.

Desperate for answers, the Websters asked King's College headmaster Bradley Fenner to pass a message to the 17-year-old's family.

An email from a lawyer acting for the boy's family followed.

"They respectfully decline your request to attend such a meeting but, if you wish, you may contact me to explain the information you are seeking," wrote Auckland barrister Peter Davey.

So Mr Webster phoned and had a "long chat explaining our family's position".

He then sent a follow-up email and received a delayed response.

It said the parents now had a better understanding of the Websters' wish to meet but "still respectfully decline your request".

Through his receptionist, Mr Davey said he was too busy to talk to the Herald yesterday.

Until the teenager fronted up and explained himself, he didn't deserve the good King's College name, Donald Webster said.

"I have asked the school to sit him down and ask whether he is worthy of the mantle of the King's old boy given how many wonderful King's old boys there are out in New Zealand society ... that's fallen on deaf ears."

Mr Webster said he'd done some sleuthing and knew how the youth operated.

"James put the word out that he wanted to get alcohol for this party and he was steered towards this chap because he was the guy you went to ... "

Mr Webster said the teenager had been summonsed to appear at the coroner's inquest in October.

On his last night, in May, James told his parents he was going to study. Then he went to the party.

It initially appeared he had taken the vodka from his grandmother's liquor cabinet and drank it outside the party in a car.

But photographs shown on TVNZ's Close Up this week showed James swigging from a bottle inside the Grey Lynn RSC, and party-goers confirmed it to the Websters.

"We want to find out how James got the vodka," said his uncle.

"We know it's not going to bring James back but we felt in order to put this whole issue in a box ...

"It won't go away but it's at least sorted in our minds and we don't have all these random alternatives running round in our head as to how he got it."

Since the party the Websters have been contacted by a handful of party-goers and told James was "egged on" by several teenagers at the party.

One was 17-year-old Alex Banks, son of Auckland Mayor John Banks who grounded him and ordered him to take a first aid course.

"It's a huge thing for me to live with, but it's very, very painful for the Websters," he told Close Up.

Mr Banks, who is standing for the mayoralty of the Auckland Super City, was not available for comment yesterday.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said the matter was now before the coroner.

"Police have investigated the circumstances around James' death and have advised the Webster family that, based on the information we have, no criminal charges will be laid against anyone in connection with it."