Jail for killer driver who was high on meth, drink
Earlier man had been pulled over and fined by police for dangerous driving
Aman killed in a crash by a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol was planning to start a family with his partner of 13 years — and had been to a fertility clinic hours earlier to begin the journey.
It has also been revealed the killer driver had been pulled over and fined by police earlier that day for dangerous driving behaviour.
Stephen John McPherson, 36, was killed on May 24 as he rode home from work in Onehunga to his Pukekohe home.
He died after a ute driven by William Junior Conrad crossed the centreline and hit his motorcycle head-on. Conrad had consumed alcohol and methamphetamine before he drove that night.
He later admitted three charges relating to McPherson’s death — dangerous driving causing death, causing death while driving with excess breath alcohol and causing the death of a person while in control of a vehicle while his blood contained a controlled substance.
Conrad was driving on Helvetia Rd between Birdwood Rd and Gun Club Rd about 8.22pm when he ploughed into McPherson. The crash happened in a 100km/h speed zone.
McPherson took evasive action but could not avoid a head-on collision. He was thrown from his motorcycle and landed in a paddock some distance away.
Conrad’s ute ended nose down in a ditch on the side of the road, McPherson’s motorcycle pinned underneath the front.
A blood sample taken from Conrad at hospital showed he had an alcohol level of 138 micrograms per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50 micrograms of alcohol.
He also had methamphetamine in his system.
When spoken to by police after the crash, Conrad said he had consumed seven or eight Heineken beers at home before driving “to get bread”. He said he did not recall the crash. He was sentenced in the Manukau District Court yesterday by Judge Anna Johns.
The public gallery was full for sentencing, with members of McPherson’s family on one side and his killer’s supporters on the other.
Bereft partner: I wish I died that night
Judge Anna Johns heard eight victim impact statements, starting with McPherson’s partner Rebecca Smidt.
Holding an item of McPherson’s clothing close to her chest, she spoke clearly across the courtroom about her loss.
“I wish I died that night,” she said. “Part of me was killed right then and I feel like I will never ever recover . . . 13 years of being together all the time, wiped out in an instant. “Now I am alone.”
Smidt said she could not eat or sleep, she was struggling in all parts of her life and every day was “agonising”.
She and McPherson were trying to have a child and were about to embark on IVF treatment to create their much-wanted family.
The morning of the crash McPherson had dropped samples at a fertility clinic.
Smidt says becoming a mother is now a dream “destroyed”.
“I lost my rock,” she told the court. “He was a wonderful innocent man simply trying to come home from work.
“So many people are affected by this and we all have life sentences that we never wished for . . . Every second is agonising . . . I am extremely lonely all the time.”
Smidt, flanked by her sister as she read, said “nothing will ever be the same” without her soulmate.
“Birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, every single thing that was fun and happy . . . I feel like I will never be happy again,” she said. “Stephen was my everything.” McPherson’s mother Sue spoke of identifying her son’s body, her daughters carrying their brother’s coffin.
“Every single night I go to bed but I don’t sleep . . . As soon as I close my eyes I am haunted by what might have happened,” she said through tears.
“I hear Stephen’s screams, Stephen hitting the road — you didn’t even know you’d hit him.
“His death has left a gaping hole in our family. I am angry, very angry. I miss my boy every single minute of every single day.
“My family is paying the price of your utterly selfish decision to drive.
“I can never forget or never forgive you for what you’ve done.”
Killer driver ‘deeply sorry’
Conrad’s lawyer Asta Gold said he had “a complete lack of recollection” of the crash.
Conrad wrote a letter to the court apologising to the McPherson family.
The letter stated he was “deeply sorry” and said driving the night of the crash was the “worst decision I ever made”.
He said he was “in a dark place” at the time and had since started drug and alcohol counselling which was helping him.
“I know there is nothing I can do or say to ease the pain but I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart and I know I will never do this again,” he said.
Crown prosecutor Evan McCaughan said it was a “tragedy waiting to happen”.
He revealed Conrad had been ticketed by police earlier the day of the crash for using a cellphone while driving.
Conrad also has a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2011.
But that did not stop him drinking a significant amount before driving — and smoking a quantity of meth.
Judge: Devastating impact
Judge Johns described the fatal incident as “terrible”.
“Your actions have had a devastating effect . . . particularly on his partner Rebecca,” she said.
She added she admired the “bravery” of everyone who read their impact statements in court.
“The New Zealand Government spends millions of dollars on campaigns . . . But still, we have a staggering road toll where alcohol and drugs are involved,” she said.
“You were nearly three times over the legal limit, so that is a powerful aggravating factor.
“You had received an infringement notice that day, and you have a number of infringement notices for speed and the like.”
Judge Johns sentenced Conrad to two years and eight months in prison.
She also disqualified the 36-yearold from driving for four years.
“I accept that you are truly remorseful and sorry for what took place and your offending has also taken a huge toll on your family,” she said.
“You will carry the burden of killing Stephen McPherson every day for the rest of your life.”