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The man responsible for the Wellington cyclist’s murder, Brent Norriss, has been sentenced to six months of house arrest and banned from driving for 18 months.
Brent Norriss (pictured) died after being hit by a car driven by Khing Tiang Wong on February 3.
Photo: Facebook / Brent Norris Memorial Walk
Khing Tiang Wong beat and killed Brent Trevor Norriss with his car, outside a BP station on Hutt Road, as the 65-year-old was cycling back to Petone in February.
Judge Quentin Hix told the court that Wong was checking his phone for GPS coordinates around 6 p.m. that night as he was driving north on Hutt Road.
CCTV footage showed Wong’s vehicle crossing the white line before hitting Norriss’s rear tire.
Norriss died at the scene.
Judge Hix took into account Wong’s good character, remorse, the opinions of the victims, and offered to pay reparations upon sentencing.
Defense attorney Chris Nicholls read a letter of apology that Wong had written to the victim’s family, in which he wrote: “I am willing to take responsibility for this accident.”
Wong previously pleaded guilty to the dangerous driving charges that resulted in his death.
He had saved $ 11,000 for repairs, which would be paid to the Norriss family.
“I understand that no compensation can bring him back to life, but I am willing to do everything possible to compensate his family,” Nicholls read in the letter.
The court heard that Norriss sent a text message to his 46-year-old wife every day when she came home from her bike trip to inform her that he had arrived safely.
Jenny Norriss did not receive that text on February 3.
Wong remained gloomy and dejected in Hutt Valley District Court when Norriss’s daughter, Rebecca McLean, told him that his actions had taken away a loved husband, father-in-law and father.
She described her father as a “fit old bastard” who planned to race coast-to-coast with her next year.
“You have changed our lives forever,” McLean told Wong, as he stood on the dock.
“The man he took from our lives is a man who gave so much to so many people. We just hope he can take responsibility for his actions on February 3.”
Brent and Jenny Norriss were in the process of planning their 45th wedding anniversary celebrations and putting the finishing touches on their “dream retirement home” at the time of their death.
McLean told Wong that his mother could not now cope with living at home without her husband.
She recognized his letter of apology.
“I appreciate that there was no intention behind your actions the day Dad died and I want you to know that I do not feel malice towards you.”
He said their lives would never be the same again.
“The pain and pain you have caused us is immense. It has left a huge hole in our hearts that we can never fill.
“I hope you reflect, move on and be a better person.”
Defense attorney Chris Nicholls was moved to acknowledge the compassion of Norriss’ children and called the situation a “terrible tragedy.”
Judge Hix paid tribute to Norriss before sentencing began and said that as an apprentice to te reo Māori, he opens each session by recognizing those who have gone before.
“While he is not with us in body, he is certainly with us in wairua, which is spirit.”
