Source: Radio New Zealand
Andrew Mercer was sentenced on Friday at the High Court at Dunedin. (File photo) RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The mother of a Dunedin man who died after falling from a moving trailer is still haunted by the decision to turn off his life support, a court has heard.
Robert Douglas Ralston died in hospital almost two weeks after the fall in Brockville in March, following a heated argument with his partner Andrew Jayden Mercer who was at the wheel of the car.
Mercer was sentenced to almost three years in prison for Ralston’s manslaughter at the High Court on Friday.
The court heard Mercer was driving erratically and aggressively when he swung onto Brockville Road as Ralston clung to the trailer, then jumped off.
Mercer had taken methamphetamine about an hour before Ralston’s fall.
In a victim impact statement, Ralston’s mother Linda Young told the court that turning off his life support was the hardest decision she had ever made and it was cruel to watch her son start to fade in hospital.
“It haunts me,” she said.
“As a parent I’m supposed to go before him.
“It’s tearing my heart to pieces.”
Ralston’s aunt told the court that she often relives the awful phone call she received to say he had died.
“Our lives are shattered,” she said.
Other family members said Ralston lit up a room with his presence and described feelings of emptiness, grief and sadness at his death.
Mercer pleaded guilty to manslaughter and failing to undertake a compulsory impairment test in August.
The court heard the couple had argued earlier in the day, starting outside a friend’s house on Turnbull Street in Brockville.
Mercer drove at Ralston after he walked into the middle of the road, before swerving.
Ralston threw a stick at the car as he drove past.
The argument resumed once Mercer returned hours later with a trailer of firewood in tow, with Ralston throwing a block of wood through the driver’s window, smashing it.
Ralston then climbed onto the caged trailer as Mercer drove away with Mercer initially unaware he was clinging onto the trailer.
The court heard Mercer drove through a give way sign and swung the trailer over the centre line when he turned onto Brockville Road, causing the trailer to skid, blow a tyre and start smoking.
Ralston called out during the aggressive turn and Mercer continued driving even after he realised his partner was perched on the trailer.
Ralston jumped off after the car turned onto Brockville Road, suffering serious head injuries.
The court heard Mercer tried to help his partner and was upset when he realised Ralston was so badly injured.
Defence lawyer Sarah Saunderson-Warner said Mercer deeply regretted what happened and was significantly distressed.
The court heard Mercer had tried to make an emotional harm reparation to Ralston’s family but it was rejected.
Mercer had a history of driving convictions ranging from dangerous driving at age 17, to driving while disqualified and failing to stop for police.
Prosecutor Richard Smith told the court Mercer only had a learner licence and should not had been driving at all.
In sentencing, Justice Preston noted Mercer’s distress and remorse but said the sentence was intended to hold him accountable, denounce his conduct and deter others.
Mercer was jailed for two years and 10 months in prison and disqualified from driving for two years upon release.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
