A Dunedin man whose drink-driving habit injured two road-users in seven years has been advised by a judge to end his relationship with alcohol.
In 2017, Michael Jason Kapa, 47, was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment for colliding with a pedestrian at 80kmh while he was intoxicated.
He appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week on his second charge of drink-driving causing injury after his unwarranted vehicle crashed into a car in Kaikorai Valley Rd, causing severe injuries to the victim.
Police noted Kapa had slurred speech and was unable to stand without assistance.
An evidential blood test revealed a level of 117mg — more than twice the legal limit.
The victim was in hospital for several weeks, suffering from broken ribs and severe bruising.
His injuries caused anxiety, intermittent headaches and hearing loss, and he required four months’ rehabilitation.
The victim in the 2017 incident was walking to the supermarket when she was struck by Kapa at 80kmh and thrown through the air.
She also suffered severe injuries that "could well have proved lethal", Justice Warwick Gendall said.
Kapa had multiple drink-driving convictions and the most recent offence was his third in six years.
Judge David Robinson said his previous offending should have made him "focus on his alcohol misuse, but unfortunately the issue persisted".
"Bluntly, I think the days of having alcohol in your system need to be over.
"It’s got no place," the judge said.
"It seems to be the thing that is the catalyst in your offending."
Kapa was also convicted of assault and refusing to give blood — both incidents involved alcohol misuse.
"Clearly, alcohol is the issue ... the two of you just don’t go well together," the judge said.
The defendant was "remorseful, embarrassed and ashamed", and was motivated to deal with his alcohol abuse, the court heard.
Kapa was sentenced to seven months’ home detention, 100 hours’ community work and disqualified for 28 days then subject to alcohol-interlock provisions.
He was ordered to pay $1906 reparation and $109 analyst fees.
