Man jailed for drink-driving deaths

File photo / NZ Herald

A Te Kuiti man who crashed his car, killing two friends, was convicted of drink-driving just eight months earlier, it has been revealed in the Hamilton District Court.

Joseph Edward Perawiti, 21, was this week jailed for three years after admitting two counts of causing death while drink driving and three counts of causing injury on July 31, the Waikato Times reported.

His friends, Justin Michael Aikman and Shannon Thomas Hepi, both 25, died and two other passengers were seriously injured in the crash, in which Perawiti hit another vehicle while travelling at about 100km/h in a 50km/h zone. He had failed to give way at the intersection of Arapuni Road and Rolleston Street in Kihikihi, 30km south of Hamilton.

His blood alcohol level was found to be 91mg per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80.

The 16-year-old driver of the other vehicle suffered serious injuries.

Police prosecutor Eilidh Hook said Perawiti was speeding on unfamiliar roads.

The crash happened because Perawiti was turning to look at his passengers when he approached the intersection.

Perawiti was sentenced on a charge of drink-driving just eight months before the crash, Ms Hook said.

In November last year he was convicted of driving while his licence was suspended.

Judge Peter Spiller accepted defence counsel Michael McIvor's argument that Perawiti was remorseful and that he had accepted responsibility for the crash.

- NZPA