An interview with Una Tuiano, who's brother, Sione, was killed when a drunk-driver crashed into their car.
The family of a dad killed by a drunk driver have shared their forgiveness for the man who turned their world upside down.
Lowe Hutt man Sione Tuiano's family don't want drunk driver Manus Joseph Cannon to be jailed over the crash that claimed their loved one, as they want him to be able to raise his own two children - something Sione will never get to do.
The 24-year-old and his two brothers had been celebrating a family member's birthday when they jumped in the car on the night of July 2, 2017.
Cannon was also on the roads, intoxicated after a pre-Lions v All Blacks match pub crawl.
Asinate Tuiano (left), Una Tuiano and Robert Tuiano lost their family member Sione Tuiano in a horror car crash one year ago. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Robert suffered a broken foot and torn ligament in his leg, while brother Una Tuiano, who was driving the car, fractured his left femur and suffered a torn PCL ligament.
Una had a steel rod inserted in his leg, and a year on from the crash still needs a crutch to walk. It was about two months before he could even get out of a wheelchair.
When he woke up in hospital badly injured, he was told his passengers were all alive.
"I remember I felt kind of happy no one's hurt, until I fully recovered and they told me my brother had passed away, and that really broke me down and turned my life upside down.
"If I had to pick, I would rather it was me than my brother, because I've got no children at this stage."
He still has no memory of the crash, and has struggled with guilt for a long time, blaming himself for not being able to protect his passengers.
In an emotional court hearing in March, Cannon pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving causing death and four counts of drink driving causing injury.
The 36-year-old had been driving with 133mg of alcohol in his blood at the time, when the legal limit was 50mg.
He will be sentenced in Wellington on Tuesday, a year and one day after the fatal crash. He could not be reached for comment.
Since the plea, the family have had a restorative justice meeting with him. Sione's parents told Cannon they forgave him.
Since the crash, Una found himself withdrawing. He no longer wanted to do things he used to do with his brother, including socialising, drinking kava, going out on the weekend, and going to church.
"We helped each other out, and now he's not here, I've lost interest . . . it's like a big part of myself."
Una Tuiano still needs a crutch to walk a year after the fatal crash. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Tuiano family had dealt with their grief by digging deep in their Christian faith.
"I know my mother prays a lot. That's where I think she gets her strength from, you know, is praying and leaving it all to God."
Eseta Tuiano said the death had affected her parents the most.
She said her brother was funny, loud, a great singer, devoted to church, a great rugby league player, and "the life of the party".
