Teen who killed three was five times over limit

David Stanley Time was nearly five times over the limit and driving at 131km/h in a 50km/h zone when he crashed, killing three people.

At the Auckland District Court yesterday Time, now 19, of Mangere, admitted three charges of motor manslaughter, two of dangerous driving causing injury and two of driving with excess alcohol causing injury.

The youth killed bread delivery man Joseph Ahkiau, 33, his partner, 21 year-old Amber Wuanita Baddock and his brother Faafetai Time, 17.

The unemployed painter who was remanded in custody for sentencing at the High Court in August, also had two passengers in his vehicle who were severely injured.

Outside the court, Mr Ahkiau's brother, Laurie, said the guilty plea was a huge relief for the family.

"It has been like an emotional rollercoaster because since the beginning of the year we have been waiting for this to happen."

Laurie Ahkiau said the sad thing about it was that Time was "paying dearly himself" because among those killed was his brother.

"We just think he made a mistake and he had to pay. He has to do time for it."

But Mr Ahkiau said he had an issue with the police chase leading up to the crash.

"They are professionals in what they do. They shouldn't have chased him to a point where it got out of control."

Detective Inspector Andy Lovelock said the case was tragic in every sense and highlighted the risks associated with driving while heavily intoxicated.

According to a police summary which was accepted by the youth's lawyer, Paul Dacre, Time, who was 18 at the time of the crash on Stoddard Rd, Mt Roskill, last December, was an unlicensed driver who had twice been forbidden to drive.

On the night of the crash he drank heavily, and though clearly unfit to drive, demanded the keys to a Mitsubishi Galant, despite two friends trying to intervene.

Just after midnight a police patrol spotted Time driving through a red light on Stoddard Rd.

He was also seen drinking from a can that one of the officers suspected contained alcohol.

The officers turned on their siren and flashing lights to stop him.

But instead of stopping, Time drove off at speeds of more than 100km/h.

He went around a roundabout and headed back in the opposite direction, followed by the police.

Objects were thrown from Time's car at the patrol vehicle.

The officers were forced to slow down when their windscreen was sprayed with what was thought to be a beverage.

As Time passed a service station he was confirmed by video footage as travelling at 137km/h.

After chasing Time for 60 seconds, the officers were ordered by radio to abandon the pursuit because of the risk to the public.

The police driver immediately slowed his vehicle and turned off his siren and flashing lights.

But Time continued to speed away, doing well over 100km/h.

Shortly after, he tried to overtake a Chevrolet ute driven by Mr Ahkiau, who was signalling and turning to his right across the eastbound lane of Stoddard Rd.

Inevitably, according to the summary, the Galant struck the Chevrolet "in a manner that can only be described as a catastrophic collision resulting in three fatalities".

The Chevrolet was catapulted 35 metres down the road.

Police crash experts confirmed that at the point of impact, Time was driving at 131km/h.

The Galant suffered colossal damage, and Time's brother was killed instantly.

Mr Ahkiau also died instantly. Ms Baddock survived the impact but died almost immediately at the scene as a result of massive injuries.

Two of Time's passengers suffered bad injuries and Time had a severely broken arm.

When spoken to by investigators in hospital, he allegedly showed no sense of remorse.

He claimed that the was egged on by others in the vehicle to "get away from the police by driving faster".

He said the reason for the collision was that he "went to sleep".

Time was found to have a blood alcohol level of 146mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - nearly five times the legal limit of 30mg for a driver under the age of 20.