A woman whose reckless and intoxicated driving claimed the life of her cousin on an Auckland motorway has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
According to a report by Stuff, Leilah Faamausili pleaded guilty to manslaughter, driving with excess breath alcohol, driving with a qualifying drug in her system, and driving while disqualified following the fatal crash on State Highway 16 in May last year.
The tragedy left three children without their father after Faamausili’s cousin, Saia Ifopo, died at the scene when the vehicle rolled multiple times.
According to court documents, Faamausili had been drinking with family members at a gathering in Manurewa before driving several passengers across Auckland. Despite already being disqualified from driving, she continued consuming alcohol while behind the wheel and was reportedly driving dangerously, overtaking vehicles and exceeding speed limits.
After picking up additional passengers in West Auckland, she entered the Northwestern Motorway and accelerated to speeds of around 130km/h. Concerned passengers repeatedly urged her to slow down.
“One of the rear seat passengers again told Ms Faamausili to slow down. She replied by saying ‘have I ever killed you before?’,” the summary of facts stated, as quoted by Stuff.
Moments later, Faamausili lost control of the vehicle. The car rolled uncontrollably, ejecting one passenger through an open window while Ifopo was thrown towards the front of the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries, Stuff has reported.
Two other occupants escaped with minor injuries, while Faamausili suffered a severe hip injury and was trapped inside the wreckage until emergency services arrived.
Investigators later found alcohol and cannabis in her system. The vehicle she was driving also lacked a valid warrant of fitness.
During sentencing, Justice Simon Mount acknowledged the devastating impact of the crash on Ifopo’s family.
“He brought happiness and laughter into the lives of many other people. He is described as a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on. His family, who loved him dearly, have struggled with severe grief and emptiness ... family members described the serious mental distress they have experienced,” Justice Mount said, Stuff has quoted.
The court heard that Ifopo’s three children are now growing up without their father.
Justice Mount also reflected on Faamausili’s difficult upbringing, noting she had been exposed to alcohol abuse from an early age.
“Your son is young. You will have an opportunity to break the cycle when it comes to parenting him, once you are released from prison. It will not be easy, given the life you have had up until now. But I encourage you to work hard to be a mother your son can be proud of,” Justice Mount said, as quoted by Stuff.
While acknowledging her remorse and efforts toward rehabilitation, the judge stressed the seriousness of her actions.
“I accept that you are sorry for what you did and that you have some understanding of the impact of your actions on the family of your cousin, Mr Ifopo. I do not doubt that if you could turn the clock back, you would not have made the decision to drive that night,” Stuff has quoted.
In addition to the prison sentence, Faamausili was disqualified from driving for five years.