But the court process was necessary regardless. <\/p>\n
Richard Blamey, 83, caused a fatal crash while leaving the Why Knot Outlet Shop carpark in East T\u0101maki on the morning of May 22, 2025. Photo \/ Google<\/p>\n
Judge Radich remarked at length on the dynamic emotions in court, including the forgiveness expressed by the family of victim Svend Aage Olesen. Only Olesen\u2019s daughter, a local professor, attended the hearing but other members of his family submitted victim impact statements that were read aloud. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey are simultaneously harrowing because of the subject matter and uplifting …\u201d the judge said. \u201cThere is a theme to these victim impact statements … of uncommon and remarkable magnanimity. They have my sympathy and admiration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is also a tragic situation for Mr Blamey … There are no winners in this process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Court documents state the crash occurred around 8am on a Thursday last May as Blamey pulled out of the carpark at the Why Knot Outlet Shop in East T\u0101maki. The popular discount grocery store – located off Springs Rd, with a 60 km\/h limit – often necessitates overflow parking during weekends, although it\u2019s not known how busy it was that morning. <\/p>\n
As he tried to steer the car into one of the road\u2019s two northbound lanes, Blamey crossed over the southbound lanes where a Honda Civic was approaching. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe crossed directly into the path of the Honda,\u201d the brief agreed summary of facts for his case states. \u201cThe front of the defendant\u2019s vehicle collided with the front corner of the victim\u2019s vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olesen was in the front passenger seat of the other vehicle. His son was driving, and his wife in the back seat. He was taken to Middlemore Hospital with chest injuries. He died two days later as a result of those injuries combined with age-related \u201cfrailty syndrome\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe defendant stated it was a miscalculation on his part,\u201d court documents state. <\/p>\n
Manukau District Court Judge Luke Radich. Photo \/ Michael Craig<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a momentary lapse of judgment … which has resulted in tragic consequences,\u201d defence lawyer Graham Reid further explained, noting that there had been no alcohol involved and his client wasn\u2019t driving dangerously before or after the crash. <\/p>\n
\u201cHad the victims been a bit younger, perhaps things wouldn\u2019t have ended up as tragically as they did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Judge Radich agreed, noting that he had viewed photos of the vehicles. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere was not the sort of damage one might see in a fatal accident,\u201d he said. \u201cIt really was an accident in the truest sense of the word.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the court process, Blamey had tried to give the family emotional harm reparation. They suggested he instead give the money to a charity, so he paid $2000 to the Hato Hone St John ambulance service. <\/p>\n
It was also undisputed that Blamey would need to be disqualified from driving for at least one year, although his lawyer said he was considering never renewing his licence because he had lost his confidence. <\/p>\n
More than most similar cases, that disqualification served a strong punitive aspect, his lawyer said. <\/p>\n
He explained that Blamey is the sole caregiver for his wife, who suffers from dementia and is entirely dependent on him. He retired last year to give her full-time care after a 57-year career that included a long stint with the Department of Corrections. <\/p>\n
Richard Blamey, 83, caused a fatal crash while leaving the Why Knot Outlet Shop carpark in East T\u0101maki on the morning of May 22, 2025. Photo \/ Google<\/p>\n
The couple will make do with taxis or Uber while they can, but the case may end up meaning they enter a retirement home sooner than originally planned, Reid said. <\/p>\n
Prosecutor Usha Keller acknowledged Blamey\u2019s remorse and suggested a sentence of home detention or community detention. <\/p>\n
Judge Radich agreed with the defence that home detention would be too strict an outcome given the facts of the case. There really wasn\u2019t a need for another punitive element to the sentence, he said. <\/p>\n
It also wouldn\u2019t make sense to impose community detention, which would include a community work requirement. <\/p>\n
\u201cGiven your age, Mr Blamey, and your commitments to your wife, I don\u2019t think there would be any utility at all in imposing a sentence of that nature,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is accepted that your carelessness here was at a low level, despite the cataclysmic consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThis is something you\u2019ll have to live with for the rest of your life.\u201d <\/p>\n
He ordered the mandatory driving disqualification and noted the $2000 that had already been paid to charity. But there was one other step Blamey could take to try to put things right, he said, pointing out that the victim\u2019s wife has suffered long-term hearing loss since the crash and has been unable to get ACC funding for hearing aids. <\/p>\n
Although the family showed \u201ctremendous selflessness\u201d in declining the earlier reparation offer, he wanted to give them a chance to reconsider. He ordered Blamey to pay $5000 more, to go towards hearing aid expenses. <\/p>\n
If Olesen\u2019s family still doesn\u2019t want the money, the judge said, \u201cThen I respect that and I wouldn\u2019t ask you to pay anything more\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am conscious, however, that there are very practical ongoing costs associated with this,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
In a written victim impact read aloud in court, Olesen\u2019s widow said she struggled to find happiness any more. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am still not like I was,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
A daughter of his who lives in Denmark recalled how she was unable to rush to his bedside in his last days because her own health struggles at the time meant she couldn\u2019t travel. It bothers her that she couldn\u2019t say goodbye, she said, adding: \u201cI am sad just knowing he is not with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking in person, Olesen\u2019s daughter who lives in Auckland recalled some of the adjustments they have had to make since his death. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt impacted my ability to grieve, taking care of everyone else\u2019s needs,\u201d she said, explaining that she now serves as the main driver to her mother\u2019s appointments because the crash so rattled her brother. <\/p>\n
For months, she said, her mother didn\u2019t want to leave the house. <\/p>\n
But she recounted the struggles with no ill will towards the defendant. Outside court, after the judge announced the sentence, she and Blamey shared a hug. <\/p>\n