By TeKāhu
The family of Emma-Jane Kupa, an 11-year-old girl killed by a reckless, intoxicated driver, is outraged at what they call a lenient sentence handed down by a New Zealand judge, branding it a “slap in the face” for their loss.
Emma-Jane was cycling in Flaxmere, Hastings, on January 30, 2025, when Terina Pineaha, a 34-year-old mother of five, struck her at nearly twice the speed limit while drunk and high on methamphetamine. Pineaha, driving on the wrong side of the road, fled the scene after the crash, which was witnessed by Emma-Jane’s 15-year-old sister riding alongside her.
Pineaha, who has 29 prior convictions, mostly for dishonesty, was sentenced to just four years and five months for manslaughter in the High Court at Napier.
The decision by Justice Dale La Hood has sparked fury, with Emma-Jane’s mother, Shannon Davis, telling NZME, “It’s not even justice. It’s pretty much saying my daughter’s life was worth nothing.”
The family argues the sentence fails to reflect the gravity of Pineaha’s actions, which included ramming another vehicle three times in a rage before the fatal crash and rear-ending a van moments earlier.
The court heard Pineaha’s starting sentence was set at seven years, with a three-month uplift for her criminal history.
However, discounts of 25% for her guilty plea and 15% for personal circumstances—including a troubled childhood and addiction issues—reduced the term to under five years.
No minimum non-parole period was imposed, leaving her release date to the Parole Board’s discretion.
Emma-Jane’s grieving family has launched an online petition demanding “real justice” and an appeal by the Crown Law Office to increase the sentence. By Monday afternoon, nearly 2000 Kiwis had signed, echoing the family’s call for accountability. “If she’d got at least six years, we could’ve started to move on,” Davis said. “Four years is just a kick in the face.” The petition urges the public to “stand with us to protect future tamariki” and insists the sentence does not match the crime’s severity.
Critics of the ruling argue Justice La Hood’s decision sends a dangerous message, effectively downplaying manslaughter and failing to deliver justice for a child’s life lost to reckless, criminal behaviour.
The family, described as “broken,” faces an uphill battle, with lawyers warning an appeal in the Court of Appeal will be challenging.
Yet, their fight for a tougher sentence continues, driven by a community demanding better protection for New Zealand’s children.
Image supplied to NZ Herald
