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Offender Databases John Douglas

John Alistair Douglas

Alias

.

Offences

Manslaughter of his friend as a result of driving drunk in Hamilton in January 2004

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1986

Current Location

At large

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to six years in July 2004
Paroled August 2006

Background
Waikato Times story from July 14th 2004
A Waihi teenager has been sentenced to six years in prison for the manslaughter of his 15-year-old friend after a car smash in the town on January 2 this year. John Alistair Douglas appeared in the High Court at Hamilton yesterday after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Harry Laurie and failing to stop and render assistance after the crash.

The court heard Douglas, now 18, had gone to a party in the town about 9pm. He left the party and went home to get his car before going to a service station and back to the party. Justice Laurenson said Douglas drank a significant amount of alcohol at the party before he and Harry Laurie decided to go for a drive with two other passengers about 1.15am.

Justice Laurenson said police saw the group drive through the main business area of Waihi, with their arms waving out the windows. Douglas then turned the wrong way down a one-way street and sped away from police before losing control on a corner and crashing into a fence. Harry Laurie was killed instantly. Douglas ran from the scene to his grandparents where he was found by police later that morning.

His lawyer Sean Ellis disputed that Douglas drove the wrong way down a one-way street but Justice Laurenson said, regardless, Douglas was under the influence of alcohol and his driving was appalling. "What we have is another case where we have a young person driving a vehicle when they shouldn't, when they are significantly affected by liquor and driving the vehicle in an appalling manner and finally causing somebody's death."

Mr Ellis said Douglas was paralysed by guilt and grief over what had happened and said the fact he ran from the scene was not calculated and callous but because he was fearful. Justice Laurenson declined to impose a non-parole period, sentencing Douglas to six years for manslaughter and two years for failing to stop and render assistance. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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