2 Nov 2022
R v SPEIR [2022] NZHC 2850
- Citation
- [2022] NZHC 2850
- Court
- High Court
Starting point for this manslaughter by dangerous driving was six years' imprisonment. Voluntary drug-induced psychosis did not reduce culpability because psychosis resulted from voluntary methamphetamine use; defendant was not incapacitated when he chose to drive and engaged in grossly negligent conduct. The starting point was uplifted modestly for prior driving-related convictions and offending while subject to sentence, and mitigated for traumatic background, substance dependence and rehabilitation prospects producing a 20% discount, resulting in 5 years 3 months. A 50% credit for exemplar…