A Northland man has started a two-and-a-half year jail term
for killing his partner and a man when his unwarranted and
unregistered car crashed into another.
Caleb Mormon Reo Erueti, 27, appeared for sentence in the
Whangarei District Court today after earlier pleading guilty
to two charges of dangerous driving causing death and three
of dangerous driving causing injury after the crash on State
Highway 1, Hukerenui, on February 17, this year.
Erueti's partner Joanne Whare, 24, of Kaikohe, died in
Whangarei Hospital after the crash while Murray Hemara, 53,
of Rawhiti, who was a passenger in the other car, died at the
scene.
Mr Hemara's partner Ti Miringa Hoori and Erueti and Whare's
children, aged 2 and 3 at the time, were injured in the
crash.
An examination found Erueti's car had two bald rear tyres
that wouldn't have passed a warrant of fitness test, and the
speedometer and lights were not working.
After the crash Erueti told police he was emotional after
they missed a hospital appointment and admitted that this may
have impacted on his driving.
Judge Stan Thorburn sentenced Erueti to two-and-a- half
years' jail on the two dangerous driving causing death
charges and 12 months jail on the remaining three, with all
terms to run concurrently.
The judge said the crash had also impacted greatly on
Erueti's physical and mental health.
He also disqualified Erueti from driving for five years.
- Northern Advocate
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