James Philp spoke to the Otago Daily Times yesterday after his former partner Kristeena Rose Kumeroa, 31, was sentenced in the Gore District Court to 60 hours’ community work for careless driving causing the death of Malakai Kumeroa-Philp.
The woman fatally struck her 3-year-old son with a car when she was reversing in their driveway on New Year’s Day 2025.
Kumeroa was manoeuvring her car to plug a gap in a makeshift play area she made for her young children.
As she looked to see where her children were, she lost her balance and hit the accelerator, causing the car to move backwards and hit her son.
The maximum penalty for the charge was three months’ imprisonment and a $3000 fine.
Mr Philp was ‘‘disappointed’’ after Wednesday’s sentencing as he felt community work (of 60 hours) was a light sentence and the disqualification (of 12 months) should have been longer.
‘‘I just don’t feel like he got the justice he deserved,’’ he said.
‘‘It seems like a lot of other people are paying for it more than what she is,’’ he said.
Mr Philp said his life was ‘‘flipped upside down’’ after Malakai’s death and felt his relationship with his son was overlooked during the court hearing, he said.
‘‘He was my little clone,’’ Mr Philp said.
‘‘That’s what sort of hurt as well. There was no mention of how strong the relationship and bond that he had with me [was].’’
At sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Mark Williams told Kumeroa she had given herself an emotional life sentence, as she would have to live with her son’s death forever.
She had her hands over her face throughout the sentencing and was clutching a pillow.
In statements read to the court, Kumeroa’s family said the woman ‘‘adored her baby boy’’ and she was distraught after her son’s death.
Although Mr Philp was disappointed with the sentence Kumeroa received, the court process did give him some closure.
He remembered his son as cheeky, caring and a loving brother.
Mr Philp was now focusing on his other children, but still visited Malakai at the urupā most days.
‘‘I often look at the stars. I know he’s up there,’’ he said.
‘‘I just try to live for us now, not just for me.’’
