The family of a young girl who was killed by a drunk speeding driver high on meth have launched a petition appealing for a higher prison sentence.
Mother of five Terina Pineaha, 34, fatally hit 11-year-old Emma-Jane Kupa with her car in January.
Emma-Jane was biking to a dairy in Flaxmere, Hawke’s Bay with her sister to spend her pocket money when she was killed.
On Friday, Pineaha was sentenced to four years and five months in prison in the High Court at Napier.
Pineaha previously admitted to a raft of charges including manslaughter, consuming methamphetamine, wilful damage, driving with excess breath alcohol, dangerous driving and failing to stop.
Emma-Jane’s family were devastated Pineaha was not jailed for longer, and some family members walked out of court saying it was “bullshit”.
Emma-Jane’s mother, Shannon Davis, told RNZ the family launched a petition because they felt four years was not enough time to pay for the life of their little girl.
“She was taken by a woman who had 29 convictions.
“It’s pretty much saying it’s okay to drink drive, be on meth, be on the wrong side of the road speeding… take a young girl’s life and you’re only going to get four and a half years,” she said.
A victim’s family can not appeal a sentence, but the Crown can, and the petition was calling for action.
“We ask the Crown to appeal this sentence. Emma-Jane’s life mattered. Her family is broken, and our community deserves justice.
“Please stand with us and demand the sentence be increased to better reflect the seriousness of the crime and protect future tamariki,” the petition said.
The petition had already gathered more than 2000 signatures.
Davis said they were hopeful there was a case for Pineaha’s sentence to be increased.
“We want anyone to re-look at it and fight for us. My baby didn’t have a voice so I have to be hers.
“It should be life for life. Four years is nothing.”
Davis said the whānau’s fight for a higher prison sentence was also for others who had lost loved ones at the hands of a drunk driver.
“It’s not just for my daughter, it’s for all the other young kids that have lost their lives to unreliable people who want to drink and drive.
“Hopefully Aotearoa listens, help by signing this petition and raise awareness that it is serious.”
Pineaha drunk and high when she hit Emma-Jane Kupa
In May, the court heard how on 30 January, Pineaha was driving to the home of the woman she was convinced was sleeping with her partner when she fatally ploughed into the young girl, who was biking with her sister to the dairy.
Just before the crash, Pineaha’s car reached estimated speeds of up to 105kmh in a 50kmh zone.
Shortly after the car’s speed was recorded, she struck the 11-year-old on the Chatham Rd crossing in Flaxmere.
Emma-Jane was cycling behind her 15-year-old sister, who was on a scooter, on their way to the dairy on Scott Drive.
The impact threw Emma-Jane into the air, before she landed 25 metres away on a grass verge, beside Ron Giorgi Park.
Pineaha’s borrowed Holden Vectra slid on the wet road over the footpath and grass verge, striking 10 wooden posts on a chain fence before coming to a stop.
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A pedestrian approaching the crossing just before the crash felt the wind from Pineaha’s car as it passed him.
Members of the public rushed to Emma-Jane’s aid, performing CPR until emergency services arrived. But she could not be revived, and died at the scene from head injuries.
Emma-Jane’s mother told the court on Friday how the traumatic event would live with them forever, especially her older daughter Saige, who witnessed the whole thing.
“The sight and sound of your car striking her sister and watching her body get thrown into the air will be forever etched into her memory.
“What gives you the right to take my baby’s life? And further, inflict trauma on my other baby Saige?” Shannon Davis said to Pineaha in court.
The court heard at the time of the incident, Pineaha was serving a one-year sentence of supervision for possessing methamphetamine and other charges. She was also convicted of possessing methamphetamine in 2018.
rnz.co.nz
