Careless driver has appeal dismissed
A man who crashed his car and abandoned his critically injured girlfriend in Queenstown has had an appeal dismissed.
Sahil Sudhir Shetty, 26, was sentenced to 16 months’ jail for causing bodily injury by carelessly driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
Shetty had been drinking alcohol before he drove away from Queenstown about 3.45am on
March 13 last year with his girlfriend at the time, 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.
Shetty appealed the sentence in the High Court, with his lawyer, Bryony Shackell, saying the end sentence was manifestly excessive for a first offence.
In his written decision, Justice Rob Osborne said the Queenstown Disctrict Court sentencing judge’s decision, which was based on deterrence and denunciation, together with the need to protect the community, had appropriately led to a refusal of home detention.
‘‘The [sentencing] judge clearly turned her mind to Mr Shetty’s degree of remorse but was not satisfied that the expression of remorse was backed up by his actions.’’
Justice Osborne’s decision said the 16-month sentence was acceptable and the gravity of Spendig’s injuries, the failure of Shetty to make inquiries or report the crash and his decision to drive after drinking all justified the sentence.