Court-Fieldhouse Man Fined For Crash Death

Court-Fieldhouse Man Fined For Crash Death

Blenheim, June 7 - A 65-year-old Blenheim motorist who caused the death of a motorcyclist was ordered to pay fines and reparation totalling $9171 to his victim's widow.

Terence Michael Fieldhouse had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing death.

The charge followed a fatal crash on the corner of Blenheim's Lee and High streets on January 7 in which Raymond Alfred Eden died.

Defence counsel Alan Naysmith told Blenheim District Court yesterday the incident was tragic for all those involved. He described Fieldhouse as a ``gentleman'' who had been greatly affected by the accident.

``He would do anything to reverse what has happened,'' he said.

Judge John Walker said the accident was a tragedy for both Mr Eden's widow and for Fieldhouse.

It was not possible to put a monetary value on a human life and, in fining Fieldhouse, he had to assess a penalty which reflected the degree of culpability, he said.

He fined Fieldhouse $1500, reparation of $7671 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

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