A man who drove through an intersection crashed into a car, causing horrific injuries to a woman, a court heard on Thursday.
Judge Brandts-Giesen said police were called to a family harm incident at McKenzie-Fokkens’ home.
Police described him as being aggressive before he got into his vehicle and drove away.
Twenty minutes later he was travelling along Exmouth St when he came to the intersection with Herbert St.
Instead of giving way at the intersection, McKenzie-Fokkens drove straight through.
"Travelling along Herbert St was the victim, who was a passenger in the car driven by her husband, and also the victim’s two children," Judge Brandts-Giesen said.
McKenzie-Fokkens collided with the car and then crashed into another car parked in the driveway of a private address. The second car was then shunted into a garage on the property, causing significant damage, Judge Brandts-Giesen said.
The victim suffered internal bruising to her bowel as a result of the accident. The other people in the car were not injured.
In his submissions, defence counsel Keith Owen said the injuries suffered by the victim were horrific.
Judge Brandts-Giesen said the pre-sentence report stated at the time of the crash, McKenzie-Fokkens was under stress as police had arrived "in large numbers" and he decided to flee as he thought it would be best.
He showed remorse for what had happened and had also written a letter of apology to the victim, the report said.
McKenzie-Fokkens suffered from health challenges and at the time of the accident was being tested to see if he had the Huntington’s gene, as other members of his family had been diagnosed with it, the judge said.
"We all have our challenges of health and the like and I’m pleased that you don’t have the Huntington’s gene that has obviously affected other members of your family.
"It’s very fortunate for you that you have not drawn the short straw."
McKenzie-Fokkens had many pressures at the time of the accident but alcohol and drugs did not help anyone to cope better, the judge said.
Judge Brandts-Giesen sentenced him to three months’ community detention and 12 months’ intensive supervision, ordered him to pay $500 emotional harm reparation and $400 reparation and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.
- The other sentence imposed by Judge John Brandts-Giesen in the Invercargill District Court on Thursday was.—
Ricky James Sammons (31), unemployed, of Dacre, two charges of breaching a protection order, Invercargill, April 8; failing to stop for police, Invercargill, April 12, 40 hours’ community work.
