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A gasman charged after performing work on a Christchurch home the day before it exploded was ordered to pay more than $ 134,000 in emotional damage payments.
The man on the left is Gregory John Smith, the gasman involved in the case, and the other is his defense attorney Joseph Lill. (file image)
Photo: RNZ / Sally Murphy
Gregory John Smith worked on the gas fire at the Marble Court home in the Northwood suburb that exploded in July last year, completely destroying the home and injuring six people.
WorkSafe charged two people under the 1992 Gas Act following an investigation.
Smith, who is a gas operator, pleaded guilty when he appeared in Christchurch District Court in September.
At the time, Judge David Saunders said the charge indicated negligence and carelessness and would likely carry a financial sentence rather than prison.
In Christchurch District Court today he was ordered to pay $ 134,300 in emotional damage payments to victims.
Judge Zorhab also ordered him to complete 325 hours of community service and fined Gas Unlimited $ 82,000.
Crown prosecutor Dennis Dow read the victim impact statement for the owner who has name suppression.
“No one who was in the house has fully recovered from that awful day, he will always be with us physically, emotionally, mentally, the sleepless nights and our daily lives.
“To this day, I feel anxious around gas fires, cooking and barbecues,” said the owner.
The woman said that she had worked hard all her life for everything she had and that she had made many improvements to her home to enjoy in her retirement, all of which she missed on the day of the explosion.
“When I was released from the ER and E, I came out wearing someone else’s shoes, sweatpants from one of the other victims, and a T-shirt from a hospital staff member.
“I don’t know how I didn’t lose my life.”
The woman described the emotional stress she suffered after the explosion.
The court heard how he was left homeless with no possessions or a car.
He said he moved seven times in the 10 months after the explosion.
Another victim told the court that her life has changed dramatically since that day.
He said he used to live life to the fullest, but since he suffers burns on 32 percent of his body, his outlook on life and his personality has changed.
“I remember lying on the grass after they took me out of the house, my legs were burned and I could see my partner and friends nearby.
“They put a tag on my wrist with a written criticism, they told me I was the worst hurt and I remember thinking ‘oh, at least the others are not as bad as this,'” the man told the court.
He said that day was just the beginning of his nightmare, as he now struggles to socialize and lacks concentration to do the hobbies he once loved.
“I have no bad feelings towards anyone else concerned about the explosion. It was preventable, but we all want to do this and move on as much as we can,” he said.
