An Auckland man has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for causing the death of a friend in a high-speed crash.
An Auckland man has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for causing the death of a friend in a high-speed police chase.
After drinking and smoking cannabis at a party in Otara, Cyril Pomare got into his car with Rahiri Lehu Moetara about 2am on April 27th, despite having lost his licence for drink driving just months before.
A undercover police officer saw him lose traction at a Mangere intersection and tried to pull the car over.
Pomare didn't stop and a pursuit began.
At an average speed of 157 kilometres an hour in a 50 kilometre speed area, he was out of police sight when he clipped a kerb and lost control of the car.
It crashed head-on into a concrete wall and Mr Moetara died at the scene.
This morning in the High Court in Auckland, Pomare was sentenced on one charge of manslaughter to four years, eight months in prison.
Members of his and Mr Moetara's family packed out the public gallery.
Justice Peters said she took into account Pomare's remorse and guilty plea.
"I've paid special attention to your genuine apology to Rahiri's whanau and to the fact they were gracious and kind enough to say they forgave you.
"It takes courage to apologise face to face Mr Pomare and it takes real generosity of spirit to accept such an apology," Justice Peters said.
She declined submissions made by the defence to take into account Pomare' drinking problem.
"I have found no evidence that your upbringing made you drink, the fact that you drove when you drunk is what counts not why you were drunk, it's one thing to be drunk, it's another to get behind the wheel drunk with a passenger."
