Father of fatal police chase victim: Prushya Chaichumpon's car a 'weapon of death'

Wednesday, 31 October 2018

Prushya Chaichumpon was sentenced at the Auckland District Court on Wednesday.

The man who drove at speeds of up to 160kmh before crashing into a tree and killing two of his passengers has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Prushya Chaichumpon, 23, appeared at the Auckland District Court on Wednesday where the father of one of his victims described security camera footage of the crash as 'jaw-dropping'.

Andrew Talaimanu's 29-year-old son Connor was one of those killed.

Talaimanu told the court in his victim impact statement that he had watched the footage of the crash as part of a Restorative Justice conference.

* Mother of victim says fatal Morningside smash hits too close to home**

He addressed Chaichumpon directly, telling him his car had 'literally become a weapon of death'.

A bark scoured tree hit by the speeding vehicle in a fatal crash.

Belinda O'Connor told the court her 25 year-old daughter, Sharina Meuli, was too young to die.

'She was not ready to go. This was not my daughter's time. Why didn't you pull over?'

Chaichumpon had four passengers in his Volkswagon Golf when he slammed into a tree at St Lukes in October last year.

Ms Meuli's grandmother Josephine Meuli said her granddaughter was a loving and caring person who trusted Chaichumpon when she got into his car.

As well as challenging Chaichumpon to do something productive with his life, she also addressed Judge Nevin Dawson.

'This is not an accident - this is a criminal offence.'

She said Chaichumpon hadn't been drinking and wasn't on drugs. He had no excuses for his poor decision making.

Connor Talaimanu's older sister, Renee, said she was on her first family trip overseas to celebrate her daughter's third birthday when she got the news her brother was in a crash.

She said having to explain to her daughter that her uncle had died had been horrific.

Renee Talaimanu said her brother had been training to become a police officer and hoped to serve his local Manurewa community.

Crown prosecutor Jo Murdoch said Chaichumpon drove at 'grossly irresponsible speeds', overtaking dangerously and refused to stop despite many opportunities to do so.

She said he only stopped after crashing into a tree as he attempted to overtake another car.

Chaichumpon's lawyer Maria Pecotic said her client had taken part in two restorative justice conferences and apologised to the families of both victims.

'Mr Chaichumpon carries with him for the rest of his life the consequences of the appalling decisions he made during that day.'

In sentencing, Judge Nevin Dawson said a message needed to be sent to drivers who put the public in danger.

Police initially spotted the vehicle speeding at about 130kmh in an 80kmh zone on the nearby northwestern motorway.

A patrol car gave chase. Chaichumpon made dangerous overtaking manoeuvres driving at speeds of up to 160kmh on the motorway.

Chaichumpon left the motorway at St Lukes Rd and while overtaking another vehicle opposite the Kings Plant Barn crashed into the tree near the road's intersection with Asquith Ave.