A driver who mowed down a man in a South Dunedin street left him with a head injury from which he may never recover, a court has heard.
Paul Simon Semple (39) appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday, where he was jailed for 25 months on a charge of wounding with intent to injure.
The victim said his life had "changed completely" since the October 3 incident and it was unclear whether he would ever return to his previous health.
The court heard he was now easily fatigued, had poor short-term memory, was paranoid around cars and relied on others for help.
His life, he said, remained "on pause".
Semple had been in a Toyota parked in Helena St using drugs before the incident unfolded.
The victim confronted him.
"Don’t do that f ... ing s ... on our street where young children are around," he said.
As the pair argued, the victim kicked the driver’s door, causing the window to shatter.
Semple reacted by reversing out of the angled car park at speed, swinging the vehicle around, narrowly missing the man, and driving at speed towards Macandrew Rd.
The brakes locked, which sent the vehicle sliding out of control and into a pole, causing damage to the bonnet and windscreen.
Despite the state of the Toyota, Semple reversed at the victim who stood in the road yelling "just do it".
And he did.
At 50kmh Semple hit the victim, sending him over the roof and skidding along the road.
Judge David Robinson said the rule of thumb in such cases was the speed at which the car was travelling equalled the percentage chance of the victim dying.
Witnesses described the man trying to jump out of the path of the car at the last moment.
The victim spent months in hospital and required surgery to relieve repeated brain bleeds, the court heard.
He also sustained a dislocated elbow and abrasions to 70% of his back.
Counsel Anne Stevens KC said her client’s was also a tragic story.
The defendant, the court heard, had a range of mental health issues which had been compounded by his long-standing alcohol and drug abuse, resulting in a 15-page criminal history.
Because of Semple’s unusual demeanour, he had been seriously assaulted in two prisons in the 14 months while on remand.
The judge said the defendant desperately needed support on his release.
"You need to be right at the top of the list for assessment and intervention," he said.
Because of the time Semple has spent behind bars, he will see the Parole Board imminently.
