A banned motorist who killed a Northland mother while driving with nearly double the legal limit of alcohol had 17 previous drink-drive convictions, a court has heard.
Warren John Jenkins, 49, of Orewa, north of Auckland, pleaded guilty in Auckland District Court last week to driving with excess breath-alcohol causing the death of Katherine Kennedy, and other offences.
He was remanded in custody for sentencing in September, The Northern Advocate reported.
Jenkins crossed the centre line, colliding with Ms Kennedy's car on State Highway 10, just south of Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands, on March 17.
She was airlifted to Whangarei Hospital where she died several hours later.
Jenkins returned a blood-alcohol reading of 146mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood -- nearly twice the 80mg legal limit. He had 17 previous convictions for drink-driving and 19 convictions for driving while disqualified.
Police at the scene found two red wine casks in the back of his car and another wine bladder on the road after the crash.
Jenkins was admitted to hospital for treatment but discharged himself two days later.
He was arrested as he slept in a car parked in Auckland, after a tip off from a member of the public.
