The judge said the victim impact statements were only provided to the court just as the sentencing began. Judge MacAskill also ordered him to pay $3800 in reparation and disqualified him from driving for nine months. Judge Gary MacAskill blasted police yesterday for its "professional incompetence" during the sentence of Christchurch bus driver Lindsay John Taylor, 62, who ran a red light and killed 45-year-old Trish Beets travelling in a car. Police say they have taken on board a judge's scathing criticism that they have been failing to provide victim impact statements to the court well ahead of sentencing dates. "There are hundreds of sentencing matters called in courtrooms across New Zealand daily, and Police strive to ensure all victim impact statements produced and delivered to the courts in a timely manner."

Source: New Zealand Herald June 30, 2016 04:07 UTC