Killer driver in hit-and-run after friend's death

A man who killed a friend when he drove while disqualified and under the influence of drugs, failed to stop last month when he hit a pedestrian in Motueka, the Nelson District Court has heard.

Unemployed Jeffrey Martin Brown, 19, had thousands of dollars worth of fines remitted and was sentenced to 10 months' jail with leave to apply for home detention on numerous driving and drug charges.

The parents of Brown's dead friend, Ricky Wallace, were upset at the lack of respect he had shown their son with his behaviour since the crash.

Brown's own parents, Mark and Wendy Brown, expressed sympathy to the victims after hearing Judge Tony Zohrab sentence their son on Monday.
"I'm sorry that my son made the decision he made to drive while disqualified and selfishly disregard the law, and now everybody is going to pay the price," Mr Brown said afterwards.

"We can only hope and pray he makes better decisions on his release."

Brown had previously admitted charges of careless driving causing death, careless driving causing injury, smoking cannabis oil and driving while disqualified following the fatal crash on December 27.

He fell asleep while driving round an easy curve on State Highway 60, crossing the centre line into the path of a Honda car driven by Bronwyn Holmwood. Mr Wallace, Brown's front seat passenger, suffered multiple injuries and died hours later. Ms Holmwood suffered fractures, cuts and bruises.

Brown, a disqualified driver, smoked cannabis oil two hours before the accident. Yesterday he admitted new charges of dangerous driving causing injury, failing to stop after an accident, driving while disqualified and smoking cannabis.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Stringer said Brown revved his engine and accelerated outside the Dodgy Ref Sports Bar in Motueka on February 25, hitting a female pedestrian standing near the curb.

She was knocked down and Brown's car ran over her foot. He did not stop and was later caught in Richmond, Mr Stringer said.

Police caught Brown smoking cannabis on March 14 and driving again last Friday on Ranzau Rd in Hope.

He told police he was going to prison on Monday for "killing his mate" and was just charging his car battery so he could sell the car.

Defence lawyer John Sandston said Brown was young and bad at expressing his feelings.

"He's obviously quite broken up by the death of his friend, and hasn't dealt with the aftermath."

He said Brown did not stop after hitting the pedestrian in Motueka because he was not aware of the accident.

Judge Zohrab said the Wallace family were deeply hurt by their son's death.

"They believe you need to be taught a lesson and stopped from driving."

Judge Zohrab sentenced him to four months in jail for the first series of charges that included careless driving causing death. The maximum penalty on that charge is six months in jail.

He sentenced Brown to a further six months in jail for the second set of charges including dangerous driving causing injury which carries a maximum penalty of five years.

He convicted and discharged Brown on the cannabis charges and disqualified him from driving indefinitely.

Brown had $10,000 in unpaid fines, the bulk of which were from minor traffic offences. Judge Zohrab remitted these, but ordered Brown to pay more than $9000 reparation, including $4155 to the Wallace family.

- NZPA