Judge questions drink driver's role in TV deal

Judge Kevin Phillips yesterday questioned whether a young Arrowtown drink-driver had benefited financially from selling her story for up to $10,000 to a television company.

He made the comment in the Queenstown District Court during the sentencing of Anne Marie Patelesio, 20.

Last month Patelesio pleaded guilty to two charges after she drove a 4WD over a traffic island, crashed it through a fence into a stone barbecue and then ended up in a swimming pool on July 27.

Defence counsel Dale Lloyd said Patelesio was remorseful about the incident.

TVNZ's 20/20 programme screened an interview with Patelesio on September 24.

Ms Lloyd told Judge Phillips her client appeared on the programme to prevent others from drink-driving.

She said Patelesio would not have to pay reparation to the owners of the car because they had been paid between $5000 and $10,000 by the television company.

It has previously been reported the car was a 4WD belonging to the mother of a friend of Ms Patelesio.

Judge Phillips questioned whether Patelesio had "enriched herself" as part of the deal. Ms Lloyd said Patelesio had not been involved in the deal; it was between the owner of the car and the company.

The judge adjourned the case to November 2 for a full reparation report.

He said the owners of the property had applied to the court for a $250 excess on their insurance but he needed to know the total cost of the damage.

The Queenstown District Council was seeking $3900 damages for the traffic island.

"The owner of the car seems to be covered by an agreement with a television show," he said. However, Patelesio could not pay "preferred" victims over others.

Judge Phillips said Patelesio had been drinking with friends in an Arrowtown bar the evening before the crash. She then went to a friend's house and continued to drink.

About 3am, Patelesio took the 4WD and drove around Arrowtown. She was driving at about 80km/h when she failed to take a bend and struck the traffic island.

The vehicle ploughed through a fence on to a residential property and struck a stone barbecue which caused the car to become airborne for four to five metres before landing in a swimming pool.

Judge Phillips said the property was extensively damaged and Patelesio - who in 2005 was convicted of driving with excess breath alcohol of 479mcg - was lucky not to have been injured.

"It is unbelievable that at age 20 you would do it after having been convicted two or three years before at that level ... The community needs to be protected from drivers like you."

On the drink-driving charge, Patelesio was sentenced to 12 months' supervision, 250 hours' community work and disqualified for 12 months. For dangerous driving, she was sentenced to 12 months' supervision and 100 hours' community work and disqualified for six months, all to run concurrently.

Late last night, TVNZ spokeswoman Andi Brotherston said the network had paid $2000 for exclusive video relating to the story.

It was of Patelesio and others drinking at a party before the crash, footage from within the vehicle while it was being driven, and of the 4WD after the crash.

The payment was made to the daughter of the family who owned the vehicle because she owned the copyright to the video.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES