Stuff Digital Edition

Passenger pulls on handbrake, causes car to crash

Matthew Littlewood

A man who pulled on the handbrake while he was a passenger in his partner’s car, causing the vehicle to crash into a lamp post, has been sentenced to community detention.

Tawhiri Marsh, 20, of Timaru, appeared before Judge Dominic Dravitzki at the Timaru District Court on Thursday, having earlier pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving and breaching a protection order.

The dangerous driving incident occurred on February 20.

Marsh was in the car with his then-partner and an argument ensued. Attempting to get out of the car, Marsh pulled on the handbrake and caused the vehicle to jolt off the road and crash into a lamp post.

The breach of protection order occurred on August 2, when Marsh made several inquiries to his then former partner, causing her to call police.

Defence counsel Tiffany McRae said Marsh had taken steps to improve his life since he had been charged. He was now working fulltime and was living with his aunt. ‘‘He is also keen to work on his physical and mental health. He is far more settled,’’ McRae said.

Judge Dravitzki said the incident that resulted in the dangerous driving charge ‘‘was an entirely risky thing to do’’.

‘‘You were arguing with your partner, you pulled the handbrake, causing it to crash into a lamp post,’’ Judge Dravitzki said.

‘‘Fortunately no-one was injured but that could have been far, far different.’’

On the breach of protection order, Judge Dravitzki said it was due to ‘‘the difficulties that were occurring in that relationship’’.

‘‘It was complex and dysfunctional,’’ he said.

Judge Dravitzki also said that Marsh may need to look at his issues with alcohol.

Judge Dravitzki sentenced Marsh to community detention for three months, disqualified him from driving for six months, and ordered him to pay reparation of $2800 to the Timaru District Council for the destruction of the lamp post.

News

en-nz

2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuff.pressreader.com/article/281530819293104

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