Jail term too short, says family of crash victim

1.00pm - By ELIZABETH BINNING

A 19-year-old Hamilton man who crashed his unwarranted and overloaded car, killing his friend, has been jailed for six and a half years.

During sentencing in the High Court at Hamilton this morning, Justice John Priestley described the actions of Karl Tairi as irresponsible, reckless and selfish when he sped through suburban streets while being chased by the police.

The then 18-year-old pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including manslaughter and driving recklessly in February.

The court heard how Tairi was the designated driver for eight of his friends who were all attending a party in Masters Ave, Hamilton on September 20 last year.

When the group decided to leave they crammed into Tairi's Holden. One of the car's tyres was bald and the incorrect size.

A friend of Tairi, Nicholas Smith, sat in the front passenger seat with his girlfriend on his lap. Another young woman sat between the two front seats on the handbrake with her legs either side of the gear box.

Four others sat on top of each other in the back seat. Only one wore a seatbelt.

As Tairi left the party he did a 360 degree burnout, leaving a trail of smoke behind him. He had done a similar thing two days earlier, destroying a tyre which was then replaced with a bald and under-size tyre on the right rear of the car.

A police patrol car spotted Tairi's car soon after and activated its flashing lights but Tairi did not stop.

He instead embarked on a mission to evade the police, driving at speeds of up to 100km/h in 50km/h zones for the next 15 minutes. At times he drove on the wrong side of the road, spun out and twice narrowly avoided collisions with oncoming traffic.

All the while his terrified passengers were crying and begging for him to stop.

Tairi eventually drove into a powerpole, killing Mr Smith and seriously injuring several of his passengers.

Instead of helping them, he ran from the scene. He turned himself into the police the next day.

Justice Priestley said Tairi's actions were irresponsible before he even got into the car. He had been drinking, had smoked methamphetamine and cannabis, and knew that his car was unwarranted.

Once in the car he deliberately fled from the police, telling his mates that he did not want to be 'DIC'd'.

"Had you stopped when directed by police this tragedy would have been diverted, but you deliberately chose to avert them."

Tairi, who has a history of driving offences, has also been disqualified from holding a driver's licence for six years. He will be eligible for parole in three years.

Mr Smith's family, who were in court for the sentencing, said they had hoped for a longer sentence.