Harrowing victim impact statements were read in the Oamaru District Court yesterday, as the mother of Cameron Alexander Blaze Johnson addressed the drink-driver who killed her son.
Family and friends of Mr Johnson packed the public gallery as Stuart Rowan White (53) was sentenced to three years, four months jail by Judge Joanna Maze on a charge of drink-driving causing death on October 20, 2013.
Mr Johnson (24), known as Blaze, died after his Kawasaki motorbike and the Palmerston man's vehicle collided about 3pm on State Highway 1, 600m north of Bushey Rd.
White's blood-alcohol level, taken shortly after the crash, was 157mg, almost twice the legal limit.
Crown counsel Andrew McRae said White's vehicle was weaving across his own lane and crossing the centre line as he and an associate, who had also been drinking, headed north that day.
Yesterday, White broke down as he heard the effects of his drink-driving from Mr Johnson's mother and aunt, reading their victim impact statements.
Tina Johnson wept as she paid tribute to her only child - her ''absolute pride''.
''How can I possibly put into words the anguish that I feel when every hope for the future for my son has been stolen?'' she said.
''I'll never hold my son again, hug and greet him, or kiss him goodbye, I'll never watch him smile or hear him laugh.''
White gave Mr Johnson, ''someone so full of life'', a sentence of death, and those who loved him a sentence of life in sorrow and suffering, she said.
Mr Johnson's 3-year-old son Sebastian had lost an essential part of who he was, she said.
Mr Johnson had flown to Dunedin from Christchurch to pick up a new motorbike. He was heading home when White performed a U-turn, having missed his intended turn-off, and drove into Mr Johnson's path.
''He texted me a photo of the bike once he paid for it and signed the papers. I texted back, 'take care, love you','' his mother said.
''He did drive safe, and he did take care, but the reality is, he's dead anyway.''
An only child, Blaze grew up very much a part of his five cousins' lives. Devastated after losing such a close family member, they were present in court yesterday.
Ms Johnson's sister also spoke in court. Leigh Bromwell told White how his actions had left the family living in fear, terrified another loved one would be killed by a drink-driver.
White's defence counsel John Sandston described his client as a ''something of loner'', who had lived on his own in Palmerston for years.
He had had a problem with alcohol for some time and a previous conviction for drink-driving (192mg) in 2012.
Mr Sandston said White, who also suffered from mental health problems, had expressed genuine remorse and responsibility very soon after the crash.
He had not sought bail, after being convicted on May 7.
The Crown advocated a starting point of four to four and a-half years' imprisonment. Judge Maze told White he was a man with ''a significant alcohol problem and what would appear to have been other frailties and difficulties''.
A starting point of 54 months' imprisonment was reduced by a 14 months for White's prompt guilty plea.
Judge Maze ordered White to pay $9019.10 reparation to Ms Johnson, $93 analyst fees and disqualified him from driving for five years.
