Lack of apology hurts grieving family

MANAWATU STANDARD

LEFT BEHIND: Catherine Peters' family outside the Palmerston North courthouse after McWhannell's sentencing. From left, brother Jonathan, father Bosco and mother Helen.

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The lack of an apology from the bridge swing operator blamed for Catherine Peters falling to her death has made her passing even harder to bear, her mother says.

Alistair McWhannell, 47, was sentenced yesterday to 400 hours' community work over the 18-year-old Christchurch student's fatal fall during a bridge swing with the Massey University Alpine Club on March 7 last year.

Ms Peters fell about 20 metres on to rocks below Ballance Bridge, near Woodville, after McWhannell failed to set her rope to the correct length and to tie it to the bridge correctly.

The former Crag Adventures director was found guilty of manslaughter after a two-week trial in the High Court at Palmerston North last month.

Despite Ms Peters' family not seeking reparation for emotional harm, Justice Ronald Young ordered McWhannell yesterday to pay them $10,000.

During sentencing, Crown prosecutor Evan McCaughan said the Crown was seeking a sentence of home detention.

Justice Young said he hoped the lengthy sentence of community work – the maximum community sentence he could impose – would be a continuing reminder to McWhannell of what he had done.

"But what is concerning is your continual refusal to accept full responsibility for what happened," Justice Young said.

He was critical of McWhannell – and the wider adventure tourism industry – for the safety measures in place the day that Ms Peters died.

"I cannot see how such an operation could have ever been safe without a second person checking everything. To have such an activity unregulated seems remarkable to me."

Catherine's father Bosco echoed those sentiments outside the court house.

"There was a litany of deficiencies in relation to the bridge swing on the day that Catherine died," he said.

"One could say it was not really an accident but a disaster waiting to happen. The image of Catherine falling and of the rope not being attached, haunts me."

The trial had come at a "huge financial cost" to the family.

Catherine's mother, Helen, said the lack of any apology or expression of remorse from McWhannell since the incident had been hard for the family to bear.

"He was not arrested until several days after Catherine's funeral and Catherine's funeral was 10 days after her death. There was a normal window where he could have said sorry, and he didn't. Certainly an early admission of guilt would have ... been the surest way of showing remorse and the sincerity of an apology.

"Catherine was an amazing person who would have continued to have a positive effect on the world in ways we will never know."

Catherine's brother Jonathan, 16, said he had been taking prescription drugs for insomnia, lost all momentum at school, quit his job and suffered recurring stomach ulcers since his sister died.

"The only breaks to this come with much welcome, but rare, sleep, during which I dream about her – sometimes, disturbing dreams," he said.

"Catherine should have been allowed to live longer, but she got thrown off a bridge by Alistair McWhannell."

Afterwards, Mr McCaughan said the Crown was unlikely to appeal against the sentence but was still considering its position.

- © Fairfax NZ News