A disqualified driver who killed two young passengers as he fled from police in Auckland last year was today jailed for six and a-half years with a non-parole period of three years.
Aaron Tulafono, 21, earlier pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Jaycherree Makakea and Joseph Tawhai after fleeing police who pulled him over in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga in September last year.
Police abandoned the chase which reached speeds of 130kmh moments before Tulafono's car crashed into power poles and flipped. The two passengers died at the scene.
Tulafono also admitted two charges of dangerous driving causing injury to two other passengers in his car, driving while disqualified, failing to ascertain injury and failing to stop for police.
Tulafono fled on foot but later gave himself up to police. He told police he did not stop because he was a disqualified driver.
Police had earlier pulled over Tulafono after reports of a red laser beam being shone on to motorists on the Mangere Bridge motorway.
Passing sentence in the High Court in Auckland this morning, Justice John Priestley described Tulafono's behaviour as "reckless and stupid". As a result, two young people died, leaving a "huge void" in their families.
