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A woman convicted of dangerous driving causing death in a "car surfing" incident last year has been sentenced to community work.
Jessie Jayne Leigh Scott was today sentenced in the High Court in Greymouth to 150 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.
A jury had found Scott guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of her former flatmate Jamie Angus Paul Mackay, who fell from the roof of her moving car in March 2006.
Justice Graham Pankhurst said today he was considering imprisonment but after receiving a report from the Probation Service today he softened that to one of community work. Scott was earlier cleared of a manslaughter charge.
Justice Pankhurst said that while he accepted Mr Mackay's actions in "surfing" the roof of the car were the principal and immediate causes of his death, Scott had played a key part by providing her vehicle as the means for him to kill himself.
She had continued driving after the first car-surfing incident and for that reason she had to pay the price.
Justice Pankhurst said the case was unusual and he had looked at previous cases with the same charge before deciding on a sentence, though most had included the death of innocent victims.
Scott, 28, of Cobden, was also ordered to attend community and alcohol drug service and complete a period of rehabilitation.
Scott had previous convictions, the most recent being drink-driving in 1996.
Speaking outside the court this morning, Scott's lawyer Doug Taffs said Scott was truly remorseful, and now she could get on with her life.
Mr Taffs also said he did not want to take a case like it again.
Scott said the sentence handed down to her was good for her. Mr Mackay was her best mate but now she could make a new start.
"It's awful. I haven't been able to grieve for Jamie, and I will always feel responsible."
She said she had been close to all his family but was not sure why they were not in court today. She intended moving to Christchurch with her children.
Scott said she was sorry for her part but "I lost Jamie too".
- NZPA
