The tragic incident involving a 5-year-old boy who died after being accidentally run over by his father in their driveway has left the family devastated.
That devastation has been compounded by the decision to charge the father with careless driving causing death. The father, whose name is withheld due to an interim suppression order, pleaded guilty to the charge.
This decision to prosecute has impacted the family’s grieving process, with the mother telling legacy news outlet NZ Herald that they are already serving a life sentence due to their loss. The charge and subsequent legal processes have not only added to their emotional burden but have also resulted in financial strain and uncertainty about the future, especially as the father faces the possibility of losing his driver’s license, which is crucial for their small business.
The family is also dealing with the news the mother is expecting another child, a boy, which brings mixed feelings of excitement, guilt, and heartache, she told NZ Herald.
They have moved from the property where the tragedy occurred in an attempt to escape the painful memories, but the upcoming milestones and everyday reminders of their loss continually challenge their emotional resilience. The incident has profoundly affected the entire family, including the boy’s older brother, who is shielded from knowledge of the charge against his father to protect him.
‘I think when you’re going through a grief that is so unbearable, your mind is not actually able to comprehend anything but ‘we’ve just lost our little boy’ . . . it’s only as time has gone on and you sort of become a little bit more clear that you realise how unfair it is. There’s people out there doing things on purpose to their children,’ she said.
Decisions to prosecute are made by the Police Serious Crash Panel. Police were initially not going to prosecute, but that was overruled by lawyers ‘high up the chain’, the NZ Herald report said.
Image credit: Lucian Alexe
You think you hate government enough, but you don’t.
+1
Lawyers, ‘high up in the food chain’.
See, fixed it for you.
The whole system, comprised of police, lawyers and courts are nothing but a rort when it comes to screwing ordinary citizens. It is a mafia extorting with impunity. Pay them their dues and they might leave u alone.
Justice???
Revolting decision in my opinion. The govt and its cronies commit the most awful acts with impunity and now this poor man and his family are being persecuted for a utterly tragic accident. The first poster is right you can NEVER hate the political class of New Zealand enough…..
Prosecute the lawyer for being a ***ker
Disgusting. The poor father has suffered enough.
The perverse ‘authorities’ are entirely corrupt and need to go.