KEY POINTS:
A woman who was charged after a car crash that left three of her four children dead has been disqualified from driving for nine months.
Palmerston North woman Kathie Rifle today pleaded guilty to three charges of careless driving causing death and one charge of careless driving causing injury.
Rifle's children Hannah, 5, Ashlie, 3, and Hikurangi, 1, died in the crash near Palmerston North last September.
Tamati Rifle, 8, survived the accident with serious injuries.
Judge Gregory Ross said in imposing the disqualification no sentence he imposed would punish Rifle more than she was punishing herself.
Rifle's husband Jack told Radio New Zealand he knew charges had to be laid, but he was relieved the court process was over.
"It's a huge relief that that process has been done and justice has been served and rightfully so. It's now for us to move forward - moving on -- and try to get back to how we once were," he said.
- NZPA
