Sue Johnson Obituary News: Tourist Involved in Death of West Coast mum-of-two Leaves NZ After $30k Reparation To Grieving Family
Before departing New Zealand last month, a tourist who acknowledged causing the crash that killed a distraught mother of two on the West Coast gave her family $30,000 in compensation.
Sue Johnson, 54, passed away on Sunday, January 14 at 5 p.m. at the scene.
When Korean national Taehyun Ko struck their car head-on on West Coast Road near Castle Hill, she and her husband Ian were there.
Sue Johnson, the librarian at John Paul II High School in Greymouth, and her husband, the principal of St. Patrick’s School, are a well-known pair in the community.
An accident severely damaged Ian Johnson.
Ko was charged by the police with one count of reckless driving resulting in death and one count of reckless driving resulting in injury. Ko’s wife and 4-year-old son were also in the vehicle with him.
On his initial appearance before the Christchurch District Court, he entered a guilty plea to both counts.
According to an earlier account by The New Zealand Herald, Ko and his family were driving a rental car towards Christchurch when they made a stop at Lake Lyndon to take pictures.
He resumed driving the Mitsubishi Outlander and returned to the road at 4:45 p.m.
The Johnsons, meantime, were traveling in the other direction.
According to court records, “a short while later, the defendant crossed the center line in the westbound lane and collided head-on with the victim’s vehicle.”
Ian Johnson, the driver, sustained a complex fracture to his right arm as a result of the collision. At the scene, the second victim was declared deceased.
Ko admitted to police that, before to the collision, he “couldn’t remember what side of the road” he was driving on.
But he observed the other car approaching and tried to steer his car to the right to avoid the collision, according to the police.
“The other vehicle then changed direction again and turned their vehicle back into the line of his vehicle,” he added in his claim.
They wrecked because Ko was unable to avoid the collision.
For each offense, the tourist could have received a maximum term of three months in jail or a $4,500 fine.
On February 15, he stood before Judge Katie Elkin to be sentenced.
The Herald now has access to her sentencing notes.
Judge Elkin stated that Ko and his family had only been in New Zealand for seven days at the time of the collision, calling it “a tragic accident.”
Prior to the family vacation, Ko, who has 27 years of driving experience in South Korea, had never driven in New Zealand.
The Johnson family was present in court, along with their backers.
Ian Johnson’s Victim Impact Statement was read.
He wrote of how the hit knocked him out and how he woke up to find his wife “motionless, bruised, bleeding, and injured” across from him.
“Trapped in our automobile, I gripped onto my wife’s hand and wished she would stay with me. As I prayed and observed, the emergency personnel made a valiant attempt to revive her. Stuff reported from the sentencing hearing, “I held her hand the entire time.
“I watched in pain as they bandaged her face and labored to cut myself free from the debris.
“I was ripped away from my dead wife and taken to the ambulance and then the helicopter, forcing me to leave her alone in our car.”
Later this year, the Johnsons, who are married for 25 years, would have celebrated their 25 years together with their two children.
Johnson reportedly stated in his statement that he could not even begin to consider life without his wife and that he could not envision ever experiencing true happiness. This is according to Stuff.
The sentence notes from Judge Elkin detail her reasoning for selecting the penalties that should be imposed on Ko.
Judge Elkin addressed the Johnson family, saying, “We have heard this afternoon of the utter heartbreak and devastation caused for the family and friends of the victims.”
Nothing this court could say would even begin to approximate the suffering you are going through.
“Everyone here has heard your words clearly and loudly.”
It was evident, according to Judge Elkin, that Ko was also “deeply affected by the impact” of his conduct.
“That will also apply to your spouse and child who sustained injuries in the collision,” she stated.
“Your letter of apologies to the family of Sue and Ian conveys your profound sense of regret and sorrow.
“You didn’t plan for any of this to occur, but due to your negligence, it happened
“This is something that you too will carry for the rest of your life, as your letter states.”
Ko had never been convicted of a crime before, according to Judge Elkin.
During his initial court appearance, he had expressed his desire to get the case resolved quickly and go back to South Korea.
He was commended by the judge for taking ownership of his offense and entering a guilty plea as soon as possible.
She said, “You were also willing to participate in a restorative justice process, but given the circumstances, that was not possible.”
Judge Elkin acknowledged that she could not ignore the gravity of the accusations, even while she applauded his course of action following the offense.
Because of the legal and moral decisions that must be made, she stated that cases of this kind are among the most challenging to be heard by the court.
“The wrongful act will include criminal responsibility at the lower end of the available spectrum, but the harm is so frequently tragically disastrous, and the offender, as in this case, is an otherwise responsible person.
“Under such circumstances, the victim will frequently view the sentence imposed by the court as an utterly insufficient acknowledgement of the harm done.”
According to Judge Elkin, the offending motorist had aggravating circumstances in prior cases, such as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, or driving when very tired.
Others exhibit behavior that betrays a self-centered disdain for the security of other drivers. At the bottom end of the spectrum are situations where there are no exacerbating factors, only a brief loss of focus or attention.
“Although it is unclear how or why the defendant ended up on the wrong side of the road, there is no evidence of selfish disregard or intention in this case, nor are there any aggravating features before the court.”
According to Judge Elkin, it is “well-settled” that disqualification in conjunction with community service or reparations is the acceptable course of action in cases without aggravating circumstances.
She stated that a community service requirement would not be suitable in light of Ko’s individual circumstances.
“Mr. Ko, I don’t think staying here and doing these hours will accomplish anything in the current situation, nor do I think it would advance the goals and ideals of sentencing,” she remarked.
“I make this statement considering your prior good character, your regret, your acknowledgement of your actions, your offer of compensation, and the fact that you do not currently reside in New Zealand.”
She informed Ko that the Johnson family had suffered “significant financial costs” as a result of the incident and that there would surely be ongoing expenditures in the future.
Judge Elkin remarked, “Mr. Ko, in order to help with this and, in some small way, reflect your remorse for what has occurred, you have offered to pay reparations to the victims’ family.”
“You have the resources and have promised to make amends up to $30,000 in the coming seven days.
“While this will undoubtedly help, the court cannot make up for any losses the victims have suffered, either financially or otherwise, in this sentencing process.
“This court cannot impose a sentence that will reverse the actions taken.”
Judge Elkin found Ko guilty on both offenses after considering all the evidence, and he was immediately banned from driving in New Zealand for two years.
She declared, “And you are ordered to pay Ian Johnson $30,000 in reparations.”
This amounts to $20,000 for the charge of driving while intoxicated and $10,000 for the charge of driving while intoxicated.
“Your passport will be returned to you within the next seven days after that money has been paid into the court.”
During his initial court appearance, he was given temporary suppression, which enabled him to inform his South Korean employer and family.
Judge Elkin addressed the Johnson family, saying, “I know I speak on behalf of everyone in this court in saying that I am so deeply sorry for your and your family’s loss.”
“And so, with heavy heart, and best wishes to everyone involved in this terrible tragedy, the court’s sentencing function comes to an end today.”
