Jail return likely for killer after chase crash
A convicted killer who crashed into a fence after a high-speed chase is likely to return to prison.
Home detention was ruled out for 31-year-old John Oliver Jamieson in the Christchurch District Court yesterday. He has two previous convictions for dangerous driving, and four for disqualified driving – and he will stay in custody for sentencing on July 26.
Jamieson was jailed in 2009 for nine years for manslaughter over the death of
Wayne Kerry
Bray, who was kicked to death in a group street assault in
Timaru the previous year.
He was also found guilty last year of threatening to chop his wife’s head off during an argument over the telephone.
Police said that on June 2, Jamieson drove on State Highway 1 towards Burnham, south of Christchurch, at 180kmh while overtaking other cars in a passing lane. Police followed him with their sirens and lights on, but he crossed the double yellow lines into the southbound lane to overtake other northbound cars.
He remained on the wrong side of the road until the end of the passing lane, still travelling at high speed. He turned too fast at Rolleston, and went off the road, across a grass area, before going back on the road.
At Lowes Rd he went on to the wrong side of the road again, around a roundabout the wrong way, hit another car causing minor damage, before crashing into a fence.
Jamieson pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police, driving recklessly, driving carelessly, and unlawful possession of a pistol.