Fatal crash driver jailed despite pleas from victim's family

The Porsche after the accident. Photo / Supplied

An Auckland businessman has been jailed for two years after causing the death of his passenger when his Porsche crashed down a bank and landed on its roof two years ago.

Alan Oliver, 55, was killed on January 7, 2009, when he was a passenger in a 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo which missed a corner on Matauri Bay Rd, north of Kerikeri in Northland.

The driver, Jonathon Paul Martin, was sentenced in Kaikohe District Court yesterday to two years' jail and ordered to pay $10,000 reparation to the victim's family, the Northern Advocate reported.

According to the company's website, Martin is the managing director of Phoenix Aluminium, one of the biggest manufacturers of aluminium doors and windows in New Zealand.

Martin initially pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death, but late last year changed his plea to guilty.

Mr Oliver's family asked Judge Duncan Harvey to consider ordering Martin to pay reparation instead of sending him to jail as that would place an unnecessary burden on taxpayers.

But Judge Harvey said the seriousness of the offence meant jail could not be avoided despite the family's "remarkable" victim impact statements.

Judge Harvey said Martin had been drinking, driving at excessive speed and had left the scene of the crash.

- NZPA