Baby's last moments at hands of drunk mother

Jason Farrell was only seven-months old when his drunk mother got behind the wheel of her car and started to speed, Tauranga District Court has been told.

Racquel Haina Kiwi, 25, pleaded guilty yesterday to five driving charges resulting from the crash that killed her son.

She pleaded guilty to one charge of driving with excess blood alcohol causing death, and four of driving with excess blood alcohol causing injury.

A blood test after the accident showed that Kiwi had a blood alcohol level of 172mg per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

The court was told Kiwi had spent the afternoon drinking beer and spirits with friends at Mt Maunganui last April 22 when she picked up her son and got into her car about 4pm.

Three other people decided to go with Kiwi to collect her partner from work and one held Jason on their lap in the back seat while Kiwi reversed down the driveway, knocking over a letter box as she went.

As she sped along SH29 towards Maungatapu Bridge at 120km/h, she lost control and hit the back of another vehicle.

Her car crossed the centreline into oncoming traffic, hit a barrier on the opposite side of the road and slammed into the path of another car, injuring its driver.

Kiwi's front seat passenger suffered a lacerated liver and fractured foot bones, while the backseat passengers had bruising and lacerations, whiplash and chipped teeth.

Kiwi fractured her collarbone and got many cuts.

Jason died of extreme internal injuries while being taken to hospital by ambulance.

Kiwi said she was in a hurry to pick up her partner because she was running late.

Judge Louis Bidois refused bail, saying the nature of the charges and the fact that Kiwi would be sentenced to jail meant he had no choice but to remand her in custody.

Kiwi would be sentenced next month.