Herbs star caused road death

By ABIGAIL CASPARI in Rotorua
A respected musician with one of New Zealand's most well known bands - Herbs - has escaped a jail term after killing a man in a road accident.

Auckland musician John Dilworth Karaka, 55, has pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of 58-year-old William Greene on March 27 near Reporoa, and to careless driving causing injury to his passenger David Tau Tau.

Karaka is well known and respected in music circles for his work with Herbs. The group is one of New Zealand's premier reggae bands and well known for its pro-peace and anti-nuclear stance.

Yesterday, Karaka - who has a previous conviction for careless driving - was ordered to pay $2000 each to the family of Mr Greene and Mr Tau Tau. His car had slammed into a parked vehicle on March 27 - killing Mr Greene and injuring Mr Tau Tau. He was also banned from driving for one year and ordered to carry out 150 hours community service by Rotorua District Court Judge Phil Gittos.

Karaka had been returning to Auckland at 4.15am after a gig at National Park in heavy rain. Visibility was poor, the court was told.

As he rounded a right hand bend he drove on to the side of the road, crashing into the back of a parked car, shunting it a considerable distance along the grass verge.

Both Mr Greene, who was in the driver's seat, and passenger Mr Tau Tau had to be cut free from the vehicle. Mr Greene died at the scene and Mr Tau Tau suffered a ruptured spleen, spending several days in intensive care.

Karaka told police he was forced to swerve left when headlights from another vehicle appeared in front of him but a witness told police there was no oncoming car.

Judge Gittos said he did not believe a jail term for Karaka would serve any purpose.

Given the damage to Mr Greene's car, Karaka would have been driving at considerable speed, which was not prudent for the weather conditions at the time, the judge said.

Judge Gittos told Karaka although he may have thought he had the road to himself, that was something that could not be taken for granted.

Lawyer Simon Lance said Karaka was extremely sorry and was willing to take part in the restorative justice programme which would include meeting with Mr Greene's family and Mr Tau Tau and his family.

The court was told neither family wanted to be part of the programme.