Is this all a life is worth?

[mazz1972]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4189769a12855.html

Tuesday, 4 September 2007

Family devastated by fatal crash, court told

A Masterton family's hopes of having their first Christmas together in years were shattered when Rhys Gard died in a head-on collision near Upper Hutt.

The 32-year-old was killed on December 16 after a car pulled out and hit an overtaking car in River Rd, sending it into the path of Mr Gard's motorcycle.

Yesterday, Virginia Mary Ngaheu, a 24-year-old mother from Petone, was sentenced in Upper Hutt District Court to 300 hours' community work for careless use of a vehicle causing death.

Judge Denys Barry also disqualified her from driving for six months, after which she will have to resit her licence.

"The victim impact statements paint a picture of a family riven by grief and loss and that won't fade," he said. "Their lives have been devastated.

During sentencing the court was told that Ngaheu owed more than $8000 in fines. Though she did not have a history of criminal offending, she had been convicted four times in 2003 for driving offences.

Outside the court Mr Gard's only brother, Lance, said he and his parents, Ted and Pat, from Masterton, were "emotionally devastated". Rhys had recently returned from a three-year working holiday in Europe and the family had been looking forward to spending Christmas together. Lance, 35, had seen his brother for just 30 minutes after he returned to New Zealand.

Mr Gard said he and his parents were not seeking prison time for Ngaheu. "We just want her to remember my brother's name. No sentence will ever justify what happened but it's probably a fairer way to punish her by taking away her free time. Hopefully she'll have time to think about her actions."

Ngaheu first appeared in Upper Hutt District Court in May and was remanded on bail. She pleaded guilty on June 12.

A summary of facts said Mr Gard was riding south along River Rd when Ngaheu, who was heading north in a left lane, pulled out suddenly, forcing a passing car across the centre line, where it collided head-on with the motorcyclist.

Ngaheu kept driving for "a number of metres" before pulling over and asking a passenger to drive her to a police station.

She wiped away tears as victim impact reports from the Gards were read.

Though the maximum sentence for the crime was three months' jail and a $4500 fine, Judge Barry said Ngaheu's early guilty plea and remorse justified community work.

[Hitcher]

What on earth has a desire for a Christmas reunion got to do with anything? There is rarely such a thing as the "right time" for an accident. This sort of emotion-laid-on-with-a-shovel "journalism" really pisses me off.

[Coldrider]

It almost appears that being caught dangerous or reckless driving is more serious than the consequences that arise from an 'incident' caused by it.

I mean, get busted driving dangerously and get fined what $$$$$, may be loose your licence.......cause death by it to an innocent person and the punishment is not much more.

[devnull]

What a completely fucked up legal system!

300 hours community service for killing someone?
If they're gonna hand down sentences like that, they have no right to complain about vigilante justice...

[MotoGirl]

I'm really pleased to see that if some oblivious driver wipes me off the face of the planet that he or she will be suitably reprimanded :angry: This is the sort of action that makes me furious (and me angry ain't pretty!).

[flyingscotsman]

What a completely fucked up legal system!

300 hours community service for killing someone?
If they're gonna hand down sentences like that, they have no right to complain about vigilante justice...

I'm with you devnull. WFT is wrong with the legal system? Why does it take 9 months to get an outcome? Why does the justice system allow serious $$$ in outstanding fines ? Sorry, but what we have here is an absolute and total absence of respect for anyone or anything. Bring back capital punishment:angry2:

[skelstar]

Went to primary school with both Lance (in my year/class) and Rhys...kinda wished I remember then better eh.

[NinjaNanna]

A summary of facts said Mr Gard was riding south along River Rd when Ngaheu, who was heading north in a left lane, pulled out suddenly, forcing a passing car across the centre line, where it collided head-on with the motorcyclist.



What about the person that decided to have a head on with a motorcyclist instead of holding their line and taking the brunt!!!!!

I have more of a problem with incomplete reporting than, emotional reporting.

[terbang]

Terrible and in other parts of the world the victims family could chase her with a civil case as well. One of the downfalls of ACC in this country is that people don't need to be responsible for their own actions and often aren't.

[skidMark]

What on earth has a desire for a Christmas reunion got to do with anything? There is rarely such a thing as the "right time" for an accident. This sort of emotion-laid-on-with-a-shovel "journalism" really pisses me off.


after reading all that, thats all you have to say ...have a dig at who wrote the story, how about feeling the impact of it instead of worrying about the journalist.

do you just have no emotions or something?:argh:

[avgas]

Here's hoping when she gets her license back again - she meets her perfect match, on SH1.

[The Tazman]

What a completely fucked up legal system!

300 hours community service for killing someone?
If they're gonna hand down sentences like that, they have no right to complain about vigilante justice...

Hear hear

What a deterrent that'll stop her or anyone else doing it again!!!!!! FFS

Another comment I saw above was that the acc makes no one responsible for their own actions. This is happening everywhere and is what afraid the Labour government is creating in many areas. I see it more and more these days.

[jimbo600]

Jesus Christ. You'd get more for pulling a wheelie.

Fuckin manslaughter more like.

I wonder if the sentence would have been the same if the accused was a white roundeye motorcyclist? I doubt it.

[Hitcher]

after reading all that, thats all you have to say ...have a dig at who wrote the story, how about feeling the impact of it instead of worrying about the journalist.

do you just have no emotions or something?

What emotions do you suggest I have? I have lived long enough and felt enough to understand the impact of unnecessary and wasteful death. A crime has been committed, a loved son is dead. Our justice system leaves much to be desired at times like this.

A journalist missed the real story angle and chose instead to aim for the readers' lachrymal glands rather than their brains. Why shouldn't I have a shot at their lack of news judgement?

[breakaway]

"Do not seek prison time"
"Better way to punish her by making her remember his name"

Something tells me she won't give two shits about the poor fulla. I mean cmon, bitch owes $8000 in fines.

[riffer]

I said it a number of times and I'll say it again:

If I ever wanted to kill someone I'd do it with a vehicle. :wacko:

Food for thought: Want to bet Skidmark will only get 300 hours community service?

[RantyDave]

Food for thought: Want to bet Skidmark will only get 300 hours community service?
Probably more. 300 hours community service for a shit for brains from Petone is, in dollars, 300 x $11.25 (minimum wage) = $3375. The actual price for killing a motorcyclist is less than the value of the bike itself.

It looks increasingly like Mark is going to have to pay for damage to the car - a rather exemplary bump to the drivers' door I imagine so comfortably two grand I'd say ... maybe more. If the charges aren't dropped he'll be fined at least another grand. Plus impound fees takes him dangerously close to the figure mentioned above.

OK, so it'll be close. Great.

At times like these I like to remember the guy who kidnapped the "prominent Maori lawyer"'s baby. Remember? He had warm milk in a bottle; clean blankets and clothes; modified a house to be soundproof and hid in it for a week or so. He got fourteen years.

Dave

[Street Gerbil]

I get it. This practice is a very nice loophole. Apparently if a gang attacks me and I try to defend myself with a knife, I will rot behind bars. If I run the bastards over with my cage, its community service.
G-d, I LOVE New Zealand!

[pete376403]

What about the person that decided to have a head on with a motorcyclist instead of holding their line and taking the brunt!!!!!
said person was the son of a work colleague. Not making any excuses but he was (at the time) 16 or 17 and had just got his license. I guess it came down to a lack of experience. I wouldn't agree that he "decided" to have the head on, rather that he saw the car coming over onto him and reflexivly swerved to avoid it.

[Rhino]

I'm with you devnull. WFT is wrong with the legal system? Why does it take 9 months to get an outcome? Why does the justice system allow serious $$$ in outstanding fines ? Sorry, but what we have here is an absolute and total absence of respect for anyone or anything. Bring back capital punishment:angry2:
A lead disprin between the eyeballs seems like a better solution. :)

[NinjaNanna]

said person was the son of a work colleague. Not making any excuses but he was (at the time) 16 or 17 and had just got his license. I guess it came down to a lack of experience. I wouldn't agree that he "decided" to have the head on, rather that he saw the car coming over onto him and reflexivly swerved to avoid it.

I've no doubt that this is true, and the report didn't tell us if the accident was on a corner where the motorbike rider could be clearly seen either.

I would like to have known from the news report if "the other driver" is still waiting to appear in court has been sentenced or whatever the circumstances happen to be.

[Ewan Oozarmy]

If someone is proved to have caused death by dangerous driving then this must carry a jail term - simple as that. Otherwise, where's the deterrent not to drive like a c*nt?

I read this earlier...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/6977962.stm

Different circumstances, I know, but the guy got banged up and rightly so.

[pete376403]

I've no doubt that this is true, and the report didn't tell us if the accident was on a corner where the motorbike rider could be clearly seen either.

I would like to have known from the news report if "the other driver" is still waiting to appear in court has been sentenced or whatever the circumstances happen to be.

River Road is a piece of shit that was probably designed by accountants. At least a dozen people were killed on it in the first year it was opened. After major reworks the fatality rate dropped down to about 1 or 2 a year. Where this event occurred is a gentle left curve with two lanes northbound and one southbound. Both northbound lanes have clear visibility of the southbound lane for at least a half a kilometer, probably more, in fine weather.
Haven't heard yet if the boy is facing charges or not.