The father of a young passenger killed in a high speed crash has told Newshub the driver used his car as a "weapon of death".
Prushya Chaichumphon drove at speeds up to 160 km/h before crashing into a tree in the Auckland suburb of St Lukes on Labour Day last year.
On Wednesday, the 23-year-old was sentenced to three years in prison over the crash, which killed two of his passengers and injured two others.
Sharina Storm Meuli, 25, and Connor Talaimanu, 29, were two of four passengers in the Volkswagen Golf Chaichumphon was driving when he fled police.
There were tears in the public gallery as their families read their victim impact statements, with Connor Talaimanu's father calling Chaichumphon's car a "weapon of death".
"Nothing that happened today is going to bring my son back, or Sharina the other victim," Andrew Talaimanu says.
"It's very sad to relive the victim impact statements, so as a family we're just pleased this part has closed."
It's a message Connor Talaimanu's sister echoes.
"I just hope that everyone out there holds onto their loved ones, and knows that you never know what might happen. I love my brother more than anything and I miss him every day," Renee Talaimanu says.
Judge Nevin Dawson said Chaichumphon was initially spotted driving at 130km/h in an 80 km/h zone. When police pursued him, he fled instead of stopping, heading along the North Western Motorway.
"You accelerated aggressively pulling away from the police vehicle, you reached speeds in excess of 160km/h and made a number of dangerous manoeuvres across all four lanes of the motorway while overtaking other motorists," he said.
Judge Dawson said a message needed to be sent to drivers who flee police, and put the public in danger.
Chaichumphon has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment, and is disqualified from driving for four years.
Newshub.
