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Nga Roimata Beattie-Rihari, center, pictured with her siblings, was 18 years old and six months pregnant when she died in a drunk driving accident caused by Ioakimi Sale.
A man who drove drunk during New Zealand’s Covid-19 alert level 4 lockdown, killing a teenage girl and her unborn baby, was sent to jail.
Ioakimi Sale, 43, of Moerewa in Northland, appeared in Kaikohe District Court on Thursday. He was sentenced to four years and six months in jail and disqualified from driving for six years.
On April 19, he collided with a parked car and killed 18-year-old Nga Roimata Beattie-Rihari, also from Moerewa, and her unborn baby, Pryncess Diana.
Sale had been drinking for seven hours before the accident, at one point driving to stores to replenish his alcohol stores before continuing to drink, the court heard.
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At around 7pm, he got into his car, reversed his driveway, and then accelerated sharply, causing his car to zigzag down his path, which was empty due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Denise Piper / Things
Ioakimi Sale had been drinking heavily for seven hours during the confinement, before driving down the road, killing Nga Roimata Beattie-Rihari.
Beattie-Rihari and a friend were sitting in their parked car talking when they saw Sale’s car rushing toward them.
The friend managed to get out of the car but Beattie-Rihari couldn’t. Her car struck another parked car and then a power pole, throwing her onto the road where she died of head injuries.
Beattie-Rihari worked in a hotel and was also a mentor at the Moerewa Youth Center. She was described as fun, popular, and passionate about helping others.
In November, Sale pleaded guilty to three counts related to the accident and agreed to participate in restorative justice.
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Nga Roimata Beattie-Rihari, left, pictured with her brothers, is described as a beautiful personality with a matching smile.
The charges were driving under the influence causing death, failing to stop after an accident and disobeying a medical health officer by failing to isolate himself at home.
He had more than double the legal limit on driving under the influence and had six prior convictions for driving under the influence, as well as other driving offenses.
The court heard Thursday how Sale’s actions greatly affected the Beattie-Rihari family, and they mourn the loss of two lives.
Her mother, Sarah Rihari, said she felt “helpless, empty, broken and sad” and struggles to get out of bed every day.
Denise Piper / Things
Nga Roimata Beattie-Rihari’s friends and family created this image to symbolize her and her unborn baby, as “Queen Roimata and Princess Diana” in heaven. The image was used on T-shirts in court.
“You took my daughter and granddaughter from us that day, just because you chose to get in that vehicle and drive drunk,” Rihari told Sale in her victim impact statement.
“Your decisions have had a ripple effect on our whānau.”
Rihari said that Beattie-Rihari had a passion for helping others, often inviting her friends to stay when they were having a difficult time.
“She was in her prime. He had everything going for him. She woke up every morning singing. “
Beattie-Rihari was eager to become a mother, and the accident meant her whakapapa line was broken, Rihari said.
Denise Piper / Things
A large number of friends and whānau of Nga Roimata Beattie-Rihari attended the court for sentencing, including mother Sarah Rihari, center.
Restorative justice recommended
Outside of court, Rihari said she didn’t like the sentence very much, but accepted it as better than nothing.
“After a long year, I’m glad it’s over.”
A large number of Beattie-Rihari’s friends and whānau attended the sentencing, and many wore T-shirts with a picture of her on the front.
Rihari said restorative justice with Sale helped the family heal.
“I would recommend him to families, as much as it hurts to talk to him, because they may never have the opportunity again.”
