Niklas Gebhardt was sentenced at the High Court in Christchurch today. Photo: George Heard / NZ Herald
A Rangiora father who drove off the road, killing his six-year-old son in a fiery high-speed crash, has been released from prison.
Niklas Gebhardt, 35, was driving his car with his son Lachlan in the back when it went off a rural road at a speed of 130 km/h, hit a tree and burst into flames in November 2019.
Gebhardt was pulled from the car by a member of the public, but his son remained inside and died at the scene.
Once out of the vehicle, Gebhardt was heard to say "my son's in the back, he's such a good boy, he's such a nice boy, I want to swap" and "I need a bullet".
Gebhardt suffered a broken leg, facial injuries and burns to about 30 percent of his body. He spent 10 days in a drug-induced coma and six weeks in hospital.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced in 2022 to five years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for seven years upon his release.
Last year, the Court of Appeal found the prison sentence and disqualification period were manifestly excessive, and reduced his jail term by nine months and his disqualification period to 18 months.
Gebhardt's defence argued it could not be proven he deliberately crashed his vehicle and the court agreed to exclude that as an aggravating factor.
Parole Board chair Sir Ron Young said the board was satisfied Gebhardt was no longer an undue risk.
He was released from prison on 15 April, subject to a number of conditions including being electronically monitored for three months.
Gebhardt told the board he had no memory of the crash.
"When we spoke to Mr Gebhardt about the circumstances of the killing, he tended to revert to an explanation of a possible mechanical fault that caused him to drive in the way he did. There is no evidence to support that claim, and the manslaughter conviction is on the basis of grossly irresponsible driving," Young said.
"Mr Gebhardt will clearly have to come to terms that it was his irresponsible driving which caused the death of his young child."
No treatment was required because of Gebhardt's very low risk of general and violent reoffending, Young said.
"He has a very supportive family. He understands that he will not be able to drive for at least 18 months after any release. He has good other professional support in the community. He can take up grief counselling if he thinks that is necessary and we think it will be important."
The Parole Board said Gebhardt also had one conviction for indecent exposure in 2020, which arose when he was unwell and went to the prison without any clothes asking he be arrested.
Gebhardt was encouraged to complete a safe driving course when his licence was returned.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
