-
Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
A man accused of deliberately killing a woman by driving his car into hers has been found guilty of murder.
Tony Worrell, 50, of Swanson in West Auckland, was found guilty of four charges - murder, causing grievous bodily harm and two charges of attempted intentional damage.
He was found not guilty of two further charges of attempted intentional damage.
All were majority verdicts.
Worrell sobbed loudly in court as the guilty verdicts were delivered, the jury forewoman only just being heard above his wails.
He was remanded in custody until sentencing at the High Court in Auckland on December 18.
Katie Powles, 26, died when Worrell's car struck her vehicle in Karaka, south of Auckland, on June 3. Brett Robinson, who was driving another car, was also seriously injured.
Outside court, Powles family and Brett Robinson who was one of Worrell's four targets on the road that night say the verdict makes no difference to their grief and pain.
"Our frustration is magnified at the knowledge that we should not be here. This event was avoidable," says Robinson.
On the third of June last year, the 50-year-old was drunk, had told his wife he was going to kill himself and took off.
Hours later in Karaka, he drove directly at four cars crossing the centre line, finally hurtling into Robinson's Fiat Uno.
Robinson was seriously injured; his two boys escaped the wreck unharmed.
He says there will be little change in Worrell's life for his senseless act.
"He has not lost a loved one, has not suffered the true pain of his actions," says Robinson.
After Worrell skittled the Fiat, he continued, bulldozing the car 26-year-old Katie Powles' was driving.
She had been married for just four months and never regained consciousness after the crash.
During the trial in the High Court at Auckland, the Crown argued Worrell deliberately drove his car at speed into two other vehicles.
But Matthew Goodwin, defending Worrell, said he "did not have suicide on his mind that night".
Today, Goodwin told the families involved that Worrell was sorry.
"It's little comfort to the family to hear that, but he does want it known that he is truly sorry that his driving caused those consequences."
