Roger Sydney Samson, 19, had previously been caught drink-driving three months after the deadly crash south of Te Kūiti last year.
The trailer implicated in the crash was severely corroded, with rust damaging entire sections and the brakes seized. It had not passed a warrant of fitness for nine years. Nevertheless, Samson re-registered it as new last year and attempted to drive it approximately 370km from Tauranga to New Plymouth on July 11, when the accident happened.
Today, he appeared via audio-visual link from Whanganui Prison for sentencing by Judge Philip Crayton on a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of 23-year-old Nateisha-Kurstyn Hana-Wetere.
Her young son was in the vehicle with her during the incident.
Hana-Wetere’s family filled the public gallery in the Te Kūiti District Court to witness Samson’s sentencing.
Many family members shared victim impact statements, expressing how his actions had devastated their lives.
‘A heart-shattering avalanche’
Judge Crayton began the hearing with a moment of silence for Hana-Wetere and then invited her family to present their statements.
Her mother, Hailey, described her daughter as the second eldest of nine siblings.
“She was a beautiful young woman when she passed,” she stated.
“Her energy was magnetic, and her heart was immense.
“She would assist anyone she could and was filled with potential.
“Losing her was the most traumatic experience we have had to endure, something I would never wish on anyone.”
She added that knowing her moko witnessed her daughter’s death brought a grief described as “like a heart-shattering avalanche”.
“And that is something he will have to live with for the rest of his life.”
A project boat
The court heard that Samson had contacted someone selling a Haines Hunter fibreglass boat and metal trailer in Tauranga on June 23 through Facebook Marketplace.
The boat was advertised as a “project boat” due to the “considerable amount” of work needed to bring it and the trailer up to standard.
The trailer’s warrant had expired in July 2016 and was “extensively affected by corrosion,” with visible holes and large discolored areas.
The seller informed Samson that “brakes are not too bad, just need a drag around the block to free them up, tyres are good, has a bit of rust on frame rail but doesn’t look like it will break easily, lights work”.
Photos sent to Samson showed two areas on the trailer that were completely corroded.
On the phone, Samson assured the seller that he was a “fabricator and machinist,” which made the seller comfortable about his ability to assess the trailer’s condition.
Samson obtained its details and on July 10 paid for a new registration from Hāwera VTNZ, registering it as a “grey 2025 homebuilt New Zealand new TB trailer”.
He, his partner, and an associate traveled from New Plymouth to Tauranga, arriving around 9am the next day.
The seller pointed out areas of corrosion, and Samson responded, “Oh yip, that doesn’t look too bad”.
He purchased the trailer and boat for $3000, attached it to his Volkswagen, and set off on the return journey to New Plymouth.
He took an alternate route from Piarere to Kihikihi to avoid State Highway 1 and possibly the police.
As he drove south of Te Kūiti on SH3, the trailer broke on the drawbar, about 30cm from the tow ball.
At that moment, Hana-Wetere and her 3-year-old son were traveling north in the passing lane.
The trailer and boat crossed the center line, colliding with her car.
Due to the impact, the boat dislodged from the trailer and went through the windscreen, striking Hana-Wetere fatally.
The police serious crash unit identified numerous issues with the trailer.
The front right section of its frame was “compromised by excessive corrosion to the point where it had rusted through the entire thickness of the structure, leaving visible holes”.
There was also “excessive corrosion” at the pivot point, where the front drawbar of the trailer is held to the cross beam by a bolt; in the drawbar; and on the brake discs. Both brake callipers were contaminated with grease, with the right one seized and “non-operational”.
The trailer and boat together weighed 2380kg.
Since the trailer had faulty and non-operational brakes, the vehicle could only safely tow up to 750kg.
Samson was aware the trailer was unwarranted and, despite inspecting it, attempted to tow it 370km to his home, “ignoring the clearly visible and significant corrosion and falsely registering it as a new trailer,” according to the police summary of facts.
“The defendant’s decision to tow the unroadworthy trailer created a situation where the public was placed in danger.”
Hana-Wetere sustained fractures to her skull, jaw, ribs, humerus, femur, and elbow, along with lacerations to her liver, spleen, and kidneys.
Remorse is questioned
Samson’s counsel, Rob Quin, stated his client saved $5000 for Hana-Wetere’s family as emotional harm reparation.
“It’s not an insignificant amount of reparation,” Quin commented.
“He is only 19 and has worked quite hard to save that money.”
He urged the judge to consider the maximum available discounts of 40% for Samson’s plea, his youth, upbringing, and remorse.
“He does not have a lot of support, and unfortunately, no one is here for him today,” he added.
Crown prosecutor Amy Alcock expressed doubt about Samson’s remorse since he reoffended by drink-driving and speeding in October, and later breached his bail conditions by driving last month in Taupiri.
There, he was captured on CCTV at a BP station towing a boat and trailer.
“It contradicts any insight into his offending and negates his expressions of remorse,” she stated.
‘An obvious state of disrepair’
Judge Crayton emphasized that the most glaring aggravating factor was Samson’s operation of a “poorly maintained, or dangerously loaded vehicle”.
“It is acknowledged that it was in an obvious state of disrepair,” he noted.
“But it goes further than that.
“You would have been fully aware of the state of that vehicle from your inspection and from driving with it attached.”
“It would have been clearly evident that the trailer in its condition was not safe for towing.”
He stated that Samson’s actions were premeditated, which is unusual for such a charge.
“You deliberately acquired a fabricated registration.”
“There can be only one explanation for that.”
Samson also avoided police by taking many back roads on a lengthy trip and drove with passengers on his restricted license.
“You have plainly demonstrated that you have little regard for other road users.”
He also had a history of speeding, driving unlicensed vehicles, and driving while suspended.
Judge Crayton said Samson’s employer had also observed him “driving regularly” since the crash.
The impact of his actions on the victims was profound.
“A son will grow up without a mother, and sadly, given his age at her passing, will never know her.
“He will have no memories of his mother.”
He also referenced a victim’s comment on Samson’s “she’ll be right” attitude.
However, Judge Crayton disagreed, stating, “Your attitude was ‘I don’t care’.”
The judge sentenced Samson to two years and four months in prison and disqualified him from driving for four years.
He was also ordered to pay $5000 in emotional harm reparation.
– Belinda Feek, Open Justice reporter
