The father of one of the young boys killed in the horror crash near Timaru says he won’t get to see his son grow up and slammed the justice system for focusing on the perpetrators, not the victims.
It comes as the young driver Tyreese Fleming walked free from jail on Wednesday after serving 17 months of a two-year-and-a-half-year sentence.
Fleming had just got his restrictive license when he lost control of the car he was driving in August 2021 - killing Javarney Drummond, Niko Hill, Andrew Goodger, Jack Wallace, and Joseff McCarthy.
The Herald reported Fleming, now 21, was refused parole in May because he did not have an adequate release plan. The parole board also questioned whether he was "truly remorseful".
However, at a hearing in September, the board agreed to release Fleming to a Christchurch address, subject to a number of parole conditions.
Javarney’s father, Stephen Drummond joined AM on Friday following Fleming's release. Drummond said Fleming "didn't intentionally go and kill them" but did get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.
"It wasn't something he actually did on purpose, but he drove on purpose. He knew he was drinking, and he knew what he was doing," Drummond said.
"It's a bit of silly thing with teenagers, obviously do (sic)."
But he said even though it wasn't intentional, he and the other victims' families have been given a "life sentence".
"It's actually like a dark cold bedroom you walk in, and you never got to see that kid again."
He said this Christmas Javarney would've been 18 years old.
"We don't get to see him grow up."
'It's about the living, not about the dead'
Having gone through the justice system following the multi-fatal crash, Drummond told AM the system is "about the living, not about the dead".
He told AM right from the get-go, officials said they couldn't bring his child back, but instead the process was about ensuring Fleming didn't take his own life.
"It's not about our kids who got their lives taken off them, it's about Tyreese not taking his own life. It's what's the justice system is about."
Outgoing Justice Minister Ginny Andresen said her sympathies are with the victims' whānau and the community. Andersen said she wants a victim-centric justice system.
"So, having victim support, having victim's assistance scheme, those sorts of things are really important."
Andersen said it's not up to the Justice Minister or other MPs to pass judgement on decisions made by the parole board.
She said she's seen some change through the justice system where victims have been the focus, which she believes "holds the key" to fixing some the issues in it.
"If we put victims front and center, then I think situations like the one we've just seen, might bring a bit more relief for those people who are grieving."
National MP Erica Stanford said it's disappointing that Drummond felt victims were not at the heart of the justice system's hearing.
"Having victims as the centre of our justice system is so very important."
Watch the father's interview above.
