Motorist convicted of causing death

Press, 9 May 1985, Page 14

Motorist convicted of causing death

PA Tauranga A man was fined $lOOO and disqualified from driving for 18 months when he appeared in the District Court at Tauranga charged with causing death through careless use of a motorvehicle. William Ross Cochrane, aged 25, a salesman, of Tauranga, had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge. The Court had heard that on January 20, Cochrane’s car failed to negotiate a corner, slid through a fence and down a 30-metre bank. His passenger, Patricia Adams-Miles, was thrown from the car and died. Cochrane recovered con-

sciousness early the follow-

ing morning and a bloodalcohol test taken on his arrival at Tauranga Hospital revealed an alcohol content of 25 milligrams to 100 millilitres of blood. Defence counsel, Mr Grant Aislabie, told the

Court that Cochrane would have to live for the rest of his life with the knowledge that he had caused the woman’s death. Cochrane had had no recollection of the accident, he said. Judge Wilson said the public wished to see such offenders pay for what they had done and it was the duty of the Court to reflect the attitude of society.