Mother’s petition seeks harsher penalty

AUCKLAND: A mother’s petition calling for a longer sentence for the woman who killed her teenage son in a drunken hit and run is nearing 100,000 supporters.

Charlene Kraatskow started the petition after 19yearold Rouxle Le Roux was sentenced to 11 months’ home detention and 250 hours’ community service for the death of Kraatskow’s 15year old son Nathan.

Nathan died in May when Le Roux, a learner driver, hit him at an intersection in Albany in north Auckland.

Le Roux had drunk wine and smoked cannabis earlier in the day before her Mercedes crashed into Kraatskow as he crossed the intersection on a small bike.

Nathan died at the scene. Le Roux and her two passengers failed to stop.

Le Roux was sentenced in the Auckland District Court on Friday for dangerous driving causing death.

Unhappy with the sentence, on Saturday Charlene Kraats kow started a petition on Change.org questioning the New Zealand justice system and calling on prosecutors to appeal Le Roux’s sentence and seek a harsher penalty.

‘‘I don’t think taking someone’s life and only getting 11 months’ home detention is setting a very good precedent for the kids of today,’’ she said.

‘‘They see they can smoke weed, get in a car drunk, drive and then can kill someone and get 11 months’ home detention.’’

The petition has received more than 90,000 supporters.

National is calling for a fresh look at sentencing for serious offending.

National’s justice spokesman Mark Mitchell told Newshub the party felt as if sentencing was ‘‘going in the wrong direction’’.

Justice Minister Andrew Little disagrees.

‘‘All the laws we have in place are the laws we’ve had in place for a few years now, and judges have to be left to do their decision,’’ he told Newshub. — NZME