Anger at sentence for killer
The family of a young woman killed by a driver who was high on methamphetamine is devastated he has been sentenced to only four years in prison.
Jonathon Ellis was driving on Nelson’s Coastal Highway on May 27 when he crossed the centre line and struck 22-year-old Zoe Bishop’s car with such force that the impact broke her neck.
She had been on her way to Nelson to pick up her sister at the airport.
Ellis, 27, was given a four-year prison sentence and disqualified from driving for five years when he appeared in the Nelson District Court yesterday.
He had admitted a charge of driving under the influence of methamphetamine causing death.
After the sentencing, Zoe’s mother Josie Bishop said the family were ‘‘devastated’’ at the outcome, which didn’t reflect the loss of Zoe’s life.
‘‘I have to say they’ve just let him off with a smack of the hand. How the hell are we ever going to stop the bloody drugs if they get so light a sentence.’’
Zoe’s sister Jasmine Bishop described the four-year sentence as a ‘‘joke’’.
The charge carried a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
The judge was supplied with six victim impact statements, two of which were read out to the court.
Jasmine said her family had fallen apart and she felt ‘‘empty’’ since Zoe’s death.
She had lost interest in her studies, falling so far behind in her classes that she had to drop out.
‘‘I used to phone Zoe as she was closest to me and now I can’t. I am struggling to even get up in the morning.’’
Jasmine said she kept having breakdowns and couldn’t face people while she grieved the loss of her sister.
‘‘I will never be the same person again and my life has changed forever.’’
Zoe’s aunt Donna Bishop said in her victim impact statement that the family members’ lives were ‘‘shattered beyond repair’’ on May 27.
‘‘Did you wake up Mr Ellis and just decide that you were invincible, that you could drive under the influence and not have a care in the world?’’
Donna said the Zoe’s death had left a hole in the family that could never be repaired. They would never have the privilege of her company, be able to have a conversation with her or watch her grow.
‘‘You stole those moments from us when you stole Zoe’s life from her.
‘‘You chose your actions that day, you and you are alone are responsible for this vibrant, beautiful young woman’s death.’’
Judge Richard Russell said Ellis’ behaviour was ‘‘an appalling piece of driving conduct’’ while he was high on class A drugs.
The court heard he smoked methamphetamine and cannabis in a garage in Stoke on the morning of the accident before deciding to drive to his flat in Motueka.
Ellis had been disqualified from driving on November 15, 2013 and should not have been on the road.
‘‘Your actions on this day have taken from this vibrant young woman, everything that she had and everything that she could have had and could have achieved in her life.
‘‘Zoe was 22, she did nothing wrong. What has happened was entirely your fault ... and you are going to have to live with that and what you have done for the rest of your life.’’
A probation report showed Ellis did not have the ability to pay an emotional harm repayment.
Russell said after his release from prison, Ellis needed to make himself a productive member of society.
‘‘No sentence that I can impose can ever measure, or even attempt to measure the cost or put a price on the loss of a human life and nor do I seek to do so.’’
He said Ellis had a responsibility to deal with his drug addiction before he got behind the wheel again. ‘‘No other family must go through what this family had to deal with, losing a family member to your poor driving.’’
Defence lawyer Michael Vesty said Ellis had showed remorse for his actions. ‘‘Mr Ellis has said from an early stage it ought to have been him that perished in the crash and he maintains that.’’