Road safety film to feature killer driver

A man who killed another motorist while over the alcohol limit is to feature in a new road safety film focusing on male drivers and speed.

Yesterday Gerard Vernon Jackson Hughes, a 39-year-old business development manager with Ernst and Young was sentenced to 3 1/2 years' jail for motor manslaughter by Justice Christopher Allan.

The High Court at Auckland heard that Hughes was taking a friend for a spin in his new V8 Commodore when he failed to take a bend. He crashed head-on with the Nissan of Roy George Howe, 76, who died instantly.

The court heard that Hughes, of Mt Eden, was travelling at 119km/h on Owairaka Ave, a 50km/h zone, in Mt Albert, when the crash took place on October 18 last year.

He had been drinking with friends and was found to have 132 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

As well as being sentenced to jail, Hughes, who admitted manslaughter and excess alcohol causing injury, was ordered to pay $5000 reparation to Mr Howe's partner, Norma Beale, and was disqualified from driving for two years.

Prosecutor Louise Freyer said that the 80-year-old woman had had a breakdown and now required 24-hour care.

According to the police summary of facts, Hughes took Ross McLauchlan, who was injured in the crash, for a ride in his new vehicle.

In written submissions, the Crown said that Hughes had previous convictions for drink-driving, speeding, dangerous driving and operating a vehicle carelessly. Those offences dated back more that 11 years.

Defence counsel Paul Wicks said that his client had no memory of what happened in the crash. He was completely and utterly remorseful.

Mr Wicks said that the Land Transport Safety Authority was producing a series of educational films for schools and his client had agreed to take part. The programmes will focus on male drivers and speed.