Mum sentenced after son's crash death

Wendy-May Connon in court today. Photo / NZPA

A Wairarapa mother who crashed her car, killing her four-year-old son, was given community sentences in the High Court at Wellington today.

Wendy-May Connon was found guilty in July of the manslaughter of Konrad Truger.

She was sentenced today to six months' community detention, two years' intensive supervision including drug counselling and psychiatric assessment, 200 hours' community work in road safety and child welfare areas, and was disqualified from driving for two years.

Connon was behind the wheel when her car left the road in Featherston, flipping and rolling several times, on January 16 last year.

Konrad was thrown about 30m from the vehicle. He suffered severe brain injuries and died three days later.

Crown prosecutor Mark O'Donoghue told the jury Connon was impaired from the cannabis in her system, she had also been speeding, and Konrad was only secured by a lap belt and wasn't sitting in a booster seat.

Connon's lawyer Jock Blathwayt said there was no evidence she was affected by the cannabis and Konrad would have died regardless of whether he was in a booster seat.

- NZPA