Mother's drink-driving killer had 17 previous convictions

Katherine Kennedy, pictured with her son Matthew, was hit head-on. Photo / Supplied

Warren John Jenkins had 17 drink-driving convictions and was banned from driving.

But that didn't stop him getting behind the wheel with nearly double the legal alcohol level and killing Kerikeri mother Katherine "Rin" Kennedy.

Appearing in the Auckland District Court, Jenkins, 49, of Orewa, pleaded guilty to one charge each of excess breath-alcohol causing death, excess breath-alcohol level causing injury, driving while disqualified for a third or subsequent time, driving with excess breath-alcohol for a third or subsequent time, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and assault.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear again in September for sentencing.

Police are applying to have his sentencing shifted to Northland instead of Auckland.

Detective Sergeant Rhys Johnston, of the Kaikohe CIB, said sentencing was normally at the court closest to where the offences occurred and the victim's family.

Jenkins' court appearances have so far been in Auckland because that was where he was arrested.

"We'll see what we can do ... If we can't get it shifted, we'll be presenting the family's victim-impact statement and they still have the option of attending," Mr Johnston said.

He had yet to hear whether his request had been granted.

Ms Kennedy died hours after being airlifted to Whangarei Hospital following the crash at 8.40am on March 17 on State Highway 10, just south of Kerikeri.

Police reports presented in court showed a blood-alcohol test for Jenkins returned a reading of 146mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - nearly twice the 80mg legal limit. He had 17 previous convictions for drink-driving and 19 convictions for driving while disqualified.

The police reports showed Ms Kennedy was driving a Volkswagen Polo south, near Oromahoe, when Jenkins approached a moderate left-hand corner and crossed the centre line until his Nissan Navara was completely on the wrong side of the road.

Ms Kennedy tried to swerve but the vehicles hit head-on. Her car was shunted 25m back and into a ditch.

An off-duty doctor helped St John ambulance staff treat Ms Kennedy, who was then flown to Whangarei.

Police at the scene noted two red wine casks in the back of Jenkins' vehicle and another wine bladder on the road after the crash.

While police were at the scene, Jenkins' phone rang and his partner was spoken to by police. She said Jenkins had been drinking at a party the night before and had taken her vehicle without permission.

Jenkins was also airlifted to hospital but discharged himself two days later, before police could interview him a second time.

Widespread publicity led to a tip-off from a member of the public and Jenkins was arrested as he slept in a car parked in Mission Bay, Auckland.

Ms Kennedy's 5-year-old son, Matthew Kennedy, is being cared for by his uncle, Chris Kennedy.

- APN