Relatives torn apart by mum's road death

The brother and father of a woman killed in a road-rage incident last year were also dead within 10 months, the High Court at Invercargill was told yesterday.

Justice John Fogarty reserved his decision on what sentence to give Cassandra Mary Anderson, 24, for the manslaughter of Leone Carr.

Anderson had earlier admitted the charge following a depositions hearing.

Mrs Carr, 53, died after Anderson's vehicle rammed hers at least twice and then tailgated her for up to 1.5km.

It was believed both cars were travelling at more than 100 km/h in the seconds before the crash at Queens Park, Invercargill, at 3.30am on September 14, last year.

Mrs Carr's sister Maureen Hammond told the court of the devastation the family felt.

Mrs Carr had been widowed eight years earlier, raising her two children then aged 9 and 13, on her own. In 2004 she and her daughter Anna had both enrolled to study for a nursing degree. They graduated together in 2007.

Mrs Hammond described how in January this year, just four months after Mrs Carr's death, their brother Deane Shute was fatally crushed by a boulder as he worked alone on a farm.

Six months later, their father died.

"Dad lost two children in four months. He became frailer and frailer."

She said he was found dead from a heart attack at his Catlins home in June. "We believe he died of a broken heart."

The family had struggled to deal with their loss.

Mrs Hammond addressed the prisoner: "Cassandra Mary Anderson, through your choices, actions and inactions, you have caused us to lose those most close to us. Why? Why? Why?"

Defence lawyer Bill Dawkins told the court Anderson had left her Lyon St home that evening after her partner struck her in the face, splitting open her nose.

She returned to the house twice, once to look for her mobile phone and again a short time later to return her partner's dog that she had found wandering up the street.

On the second occasion, her partner had jumped onto the bonnet of her car as she reversed and then fell off. Anderson drove round the block and came back to check on him.

He wasn't there so she continued to drive along Lyon St and turned left onto St Andrew St behind Mrs Carr. She rammed Mrs Carr's vehicle at least twice before tailgating her at speed.

Justice Fogarty made it clear that Anderson is facing more than two years in jail.

He reserved his decision, hoping to announce it by the end of the week. He remanded Anderson in custody.

- NZPA