Drink-driver who deserted girlfriend appeals sentence
A drink-driver who crashed his car and abandoned his critically injured girlfriend is appealing his jail sentence.
Sahil Sudhir Shetty, 26, admitted causing bodily injury by carelessly driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol on March 13, 2019. He was sentenced to 16 months’ jail.
Shetty had been drinking alcohol before he drove away from Queenstown about 3.45am with his girlfriend Marie Spendig and another person in the car.
Spendig was found about six hours after the car crashed and was taken to hospital with numerous injuries, including a skull fracture and brain damage.
The crashed car was spotted down a bank by a retail employee about 10.20am.
Spendig spent 26 days in intensive care before she could breathe unassisted. It was another month before she could speak.
Shetty told police at the time he could not remember the crash or leaving the scene. In December, Judge Bernadette Farnan of the Queenstown District Court jailed Shetty for 16 months, disqualified him from driving for four years, and ordered him to pay emotional harm reparation of $500. On Monday, in the High Court at Invercargill, Justice Rob Osborne heard from Shetty’s lawyer Bryony Shackell and Crown lawyer Sarah McKenzie.
Shackell said the 16 months imposed should have been converted to home detention and the sentence was manifestly excessive for a first offence.
Shackell also took exception to Judge Farnan’s comments that Shetty did not understand the seriousness of the offending, and said her client showed genuine shock and remorse.
Shetty had been served a deportation liability notice and would leave New Zealand at the end of his sentence, Shackell said.
McKenzie said Shetty did not take steps to make sure Spendig was OK after the incident. The car crashed about 3.45am but Shetty did not ring Spendig until about 6pm, McKenzie said.
Shackell said Shetty’s phone was found in the car, meaning he could not use it to call Spendig.
But McKenzie said he could have used anyone’s phone.
‘‘If you came to with blood and glass on you and have to walk into town, you should think of the circumstances which led you there.’’
She said the offending was serious and the sentence warranted.
Justice Osborne reserved his decision.