WEEPU PLEADS GUILTY
WELLINGTON: It was like any other graveyard shift for the staff at McDonald’s Petone on Sunday, July 15.
Except that a national sporting hero was slumped over his steering wheel in their drivethrough while waiting for his 3am meal.
Former All Black Piri Weepu had taken his partner’s Holden on an early morning trip to the fast food restaurant in Victoria St, in search of something to eat.
But after ordering at the drivethrough window about 2.49am, Weepu fell asleep at the wheel of the car.
Instead of waking up to a Big Mac, Weepu found himself face to face with a breathalyser.
A McDonald’s spokesman said staff at the Petone restaurant found a customer asleep in the drivethrough.
‘‘They followed protocol and called the police, and have assisted with the investigation.’’
It is not known what the 34yearold was doing or how much he was drinking before he made the decision to drive drunk, but when police arrived he gave a breathalcohol reading above 400mcg. The legal limit is 250mcg.
Police brought Weepu back to the Lower Hutt station to carry out an evidential breath test, where he gave a reading of 600mcg — more than twice the legal limit.
The summary of facts does little to explain what caused the rugby star to get behind the wheel after drinking.
‘‘In explanation, the defendant stated that ‘I was hungry and wanted to get food’,’’ it said.
The former halfback, who became a national hero during the All Blacks’ 2011 World Cupwinning campaign, was charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.
He appeared in the Hutt Val ley District Court yesterday morning, where he was called, convicted, and sentenced.
Weepu pleaded guilty and was fined $600, $130 courts costs, and was disqualified from driving for six months.
Outside court, he was reluctant to speak to media, but when pressed, said he was sorry for what he had done and that he wanted to move on.
‘‘I think I’ve let myself and my family down, so just got to make sure that I get back on track,’’ he said.
Immediately following his court appearance, Weepu recorded a video of himself, telling Instagram and Twitter followers that he was ‘‘taking it on the chin’’ and that what he did was ‘‘dumb and wrong’’.
‘‘I’m extremely embarrassed and sorry to my family, my friends, and my community.’’
The conviction comes a week after Weepu’s lawyer, Louise Sziranyi, battled for his identity to be kept a secret.
After receiving a media application to photograph Weepu at his scheduled first appearance on July 31, it is understood Sziranyi applied for an exparte suppression order, which was granted by a judge.
A judge can make an exparte suppression order without all of the interested parties to a case being present, concealing the identity of the defendant until the matter can be properly heard in court.
A legal expert said exparte orders are ‘‘unusual’’ and require ‘‘exceptional circumstances’’ to be granted.
‘‘The average person wouldn’t get this,’’ University of Canterbury dean of law Ursula Cheer said. — NZME