Callum Wither, a resident of Wellington, New Zealand, is facing renewed scrutiny after it was revealed that, just two months after hitting and killing a pedestrian while driving under the influence, he was once again charged with drink driving. The earlier incident resulted in the tragic death of Irish national Declan Curley in February of the previous year.
In court on Monday, Wither pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of excess breath alcohol related to the initial fatal accident. However, details surrounding his second charge of drink driving had previously been suppressed.
Judge Andrew Nicholls lifted the suppression order on the second charge of drink driving on Thursday, allowing media outlets to report on the incident. According to the summary of facts, Wither had been drinking when, in April 2022, he drove a Volkswagen vehicle while intoxicated at approximately 4 a.m.
Notably, this second incident occurred in the same area where he had struck and killed Declan Curley just two months earlier, once again raising concerns about the dangers of drink driving and the need for stricter penalties for repeat offenders. Wither’s actions have underscored the need for enhanced measures to deter and prevent such behavior on New Zealand’s roads.
