‘Painful irony’: Street racer caught driving at 212km/h is forced to delay his sentence to care for a loved one who was hit by a car
- New Zeland man Tepiwa Michael Peter Keremete Riwai has sentence delayed
- He was sentenced to home detention for being booked speeding at 212km/h
- In a case of ‘painful irony’ a family member was recently struck down by a car
- As a result Riwai was granted a week’s reprieve to help look after them
In a case of ‘painful irony’, a man who was caught speeding at 212km/h has had to delay his sentencing to care for a family member who was recently struck by a car.
New Zealand man Tepiwa Michael Peter Keremete Riwai, 32, faced the Hutt Valley District Court for sentencing on Friday when Judge Arthur Tompkins accepted a plea to have his two month home detention.
‘In what must be a painful irony for Mr Riwai, his [family member] has recently been injured as a result of being struck by another vehicle,’ Judge Tompkins said.
In a case of ‘painful irony’ a man who was caught speeding at 212km/h has had to delay his sentencing to care for a family member who was recently struck by a car
On March 8 Riwai was clocked speeding at 212km/h by New Zeland Police during an illegal drag race between Avalon and the Haywards Hill interchange in the Hutt, the NZ Herald reported.
Riwai was only on his learners licence at the time and the passenger in his car was on a restricted license, meaning Riwai was already driving illegally.
The two cars sped past innocent motorists along the highway however defence lawyer Chris Nicholls told the court the roads were not busy and no one had to take evasive action.
Both drivers were issued with 28 day licence suspensions and had their cars impounded after police pulled them over.
Riwai pleaded guilty in July to operating a vehicle in a race or exhibition of speed and received the home detention sentence and an 18 month licence disqualification.
Judge Tompkins said Riwai was putting lives at risk.
On March 8 Riwai was clocked speeding at 212km/h by New Zeland Police during an illegal drag race between Avalon and the Haywards Hill interchange (pictured) in the Hutt
‘Despite his own inflated views of his skills as a driver, [he] presents as ongoing hazard to all other road users,’ he said.
However he has pleaded not guilty to the racing charge so will appear in court on a later date for that alleged offence.
Riwai’s home detention was postponed for a week so he could rush to the hospital and see his injured family member.
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