Policeman let off drink-driving charge

Jonathan Erwood

The sole charge Taranaki policeman charged with drink-driving after going to a fatal crash on his day off has been let off without conviction.

"You were dealing with an emergency," Judge Louis Bidois told Jonathan Erwood.

"You had to make a snap decision, effectively on the hoof."

Mr Erwood's supporters, packed into the New Plymouth District Court, burst into applause at the decision.

Mr Erwood, 37, the sole-charge officer in the small town of Mokau, was charged with drink-driving after he drove his police vehicle to the scene of a double fatality on July 9.

In court today, he pleaded guilty but was discharged without conviction.

He will also keep his driver's licence.

Mr Erwood attended the accident in which Clint Ratima, 32, of Aria, and New Plymouth physiotherapist Jennifer Trentham, 48, died.

Mrs Trentham's husband, Richard, was taken to Taranaki Hospital with serious injuries.

Mr Erwood - who was not on duty on the day of the accident - was breath-tested at the crash scene by a highway patrol officer who said he smelled alcohol on the constable's breath.

Blood testing allegedly revealed 106 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

The charge polarised the small township. Several people, including emergency workers who attended the accident, supported Mr Erwood, who is heavily involved in community clubs and events.

The case was clouded by the fact that Mr Erwood had played golf and was drinking with Mr Ratima before the accident. However, he was not present when Mr Ratima got into a car, drove north, failed to take a corner and hit the Trenthams.

Judge Bidois ruled that special circumstances applied in this case.

He told Mr Erwood: "You risked your career to attend the accident. Your instincts were to help."

The judge added: "For 16 years you have performed with distinction as a police officer. There will be a real risk you will lose your job if convicted. That decision is not for me.

"It would be, in my view, wrong, however.

"Police would have lost a good man and Mokau would be losing a very good police officer and a very strong member of the community."

Afterwards, a relieved Mr Erwood thanked his supporters and said he was looking to the future.

"I'm looking forward to moving on and getting on with it.

"That was stage one. I have stage two to deal with," he said, referring to an internal police disciplinary investigation, which is currently under way.