Ahead of the sentencing Bugden’s husband Rhys read an emotional victim impact statement, crying throughout. He said that as the physical injuries from the collision that almost killed him slowly heal, he found the mental anguish increasing. “The sadness became unbearable,” he said. “I’m missing my wife. She was my soul mate. It feels like half of me is gone. . . it’s difficult to go on without her, moments of happiness are very few.” Michelle Lee, a friend of Bugden’s who was also injured, also read a victim impact statement, taking aim at McMillan. “We’ve had no apology sent to us in any shape or form, on the contrary, I’ve experienced McMillan’s dismissal in previous case hearings.”
Taiwan
New-zealand
Rotorua
New-zealand-general
Whakaari
Rotorua-district
William-kirk
Sheila-bugden
Tim-braithwaite
Danthony-mcmillan
Michelle-lee
Rhys-bugden