Tamaki crashed
Destiny Church leader admitted a charge of careless driving
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has admitted a charge of careless driving relating to a crash that saw his car hit a car with an elderly couple inside.
The high-profile church leader's case was called in the Rotorua District Court but Tamaki did not appear in person.
His lawyer, Shannon Eldridge, appeared on Tamaki's behalf and asked that Tamaki's appearance be excused given it was a category one and fineonly offence.
The charge relates to a crash on Hamurana Rd in May when the car he was driving crossed the centre line and smashed into the other car.
The elderly woman had to be taken to Rotorua Hospital.
Careless driving carries a maximum $3000 fine but Community Registrar Sherida Cooper convicted Tamaki and ordered him to pay $500 towards replacing the couple's car, $130 court costs and $500 to each victim for emotional harm reparation.
She said reparation for damage to a fence as a result of the crash was yet to be determined.
Eldridge said the couple did not have insurance but Tamaki arranged for his insurance to cover the cost of replacing the couple's vehicle.
The insurance replacement cost was $7500 but the couple believed their vehicle was valued at $8000.
Eldridge said Tamaki agreed to pay the difference.
Eldridge asked Cooper not to disqualify Tamaki from driving given the cause of the crash was a moment's inattention. He said inattention did
Tamaki was convicted and ordered to pay $500 towards
replacing the couple’s car, $130
court costs and $500 to each victim for emotional harm
reparation.
not always result in crashes such as this.
Cooper asked prosecuting Sergeant John Cassidy for Tamaki's demerit points record. Cassidy said he had 55 demerit points but was unable to tell Cooper what they were for.
Cooper said given the circumstances of the crash she would not disqualify Tamaki from driving.
A police summary of facts, released to the Rotorua Daily Post last month, said the 64-year-old was driving a Foton vehicle about 5pm on Friday, May 6, east on Hamurana Rd near State Highway 33.
The elderly couple was travelling westbound and their vehicle was struck by Tamaki's vehicle after it crossed the centre line.
The summary said Tamaki's entire vehicle was in the opposing lane in the path of the oncoming vehicle.