There is no excuse when a drunk driver kills someone

Wendy Damerell, Vredehoek

Your article "Drunk driving is 'as good as murder'" (Atlantic Sun, April 3) refers.

Look at my cousin, Katerina Storm's (aka That Greek Chick) Facebook page.

Katerina's brother, Gregory Ioannu Antoniades was killed at age 48 by a drunk driver while walking his dog on the Port Elizabeth beachfront last month. We can't believe it and are still numb with shock five weeks on.

Greg's mother, Liondia Loannu Antoniades has completely collapsed following her son's death. Liondia came to South Africa in an arranged marriage and had three children - Phelia, Katerina and the deceased, Greg. They are part of the Greek community in Port Elizabeth and Liondia, now a widow, worked very hard alongside her husband in their fish and chips shop in the harbour for most of her life. A wonderful woman.

Phelia, Greg's other sister, flew out from Cyprus for the funeral as did other family members. Katerina and Neil are now in therapy. I can only imagine what that is going to cost.

To make matters worse, the deceased was living with his mother in her house at the time of his death. Big decisions will need to be made since their mom cannot stay alone in that house any longer and they just don't know what to do.

Greg was a person with a life and this choice made by the drunk driver in a split second caused extreme pain and trauma, not only to his mom and two sisters, but the pain spread like circles when you toss a stone into a lake.

So by now, there are hundreds of grieving depressed, traumatised others which the drunk driver is responsible for hurting.

That life so dear to his family and community can never be experienced again for the rest of their lives. They will think of Greg often and the pain will last long because the kind of death was so horrible.

I believe drunk driving is the same as murder and sentences need to be stricter. Drunk drivers are fully conscious while they kill. It is pure selfishness and disregard for others on their part.

When you drink, you must not get into a car and drive. Everybody knows this by now - TV campaigns, fines, Ubers and so forth.

On the rare occasions I've gotten "tiddly", I know that I've exceeded my limit (which happens sooner than the legal limit). In other words, If I'm drunk, I know I'm drunk. Everybody does. And if they don't, their friends or other people who can see they are drunk will tell them.

The driver who murdered Greg was fully in touch with what he was doing because in order to drive a car, you must first be compos mentis enough to find your keys, find your way out of the premises, and be able to identify your own vehicle. Then you are quite capable of unlocking the car, putting your key in the ignition, reversing and leaving the premises.

It is a lie to pretend you didn't know what you were doing because you were under the influence. Under the influence of your cruelty and selfishness and probably quite adept at faking remorse in court.

Killing somebody while drunk is not 'manslaughter'. It is a conscious choice - a bad choice - but nevertheless a fully conscious choice. It is murder and must get the highest sentence.

If I can just add my two cents worth here - I believe in (I think it's termed 'restorative justice') which means if the family wish to meet the murderer at the jail after whatever time is approved, they should be allowed to confront them and share their pain and how much the deceased meant to them. This way, the killer will have something to ponder on while in jail.

There should be no question about that driver ever driving again in their life.

Anyone who kills or commits grievous bodily harm must not be allowed to get behind a wheel, ever. They will have to use public transport.

This includes cabinet ministers and wealthy, influential people.

Their assets must be frozen for compensation to the family. This must include compensation to Greg's mother who will probably be sent off to an expensive care facility and give up her home of 50-plus years.

There should be no question about the perpetrator reimbursing the family for the costly psychotherapy - who knows how long that will go on?

Then there is the cost of the funeral, and taking off from work. What of the cost to Katerina's business baking Greek confectionery at home to supply shops and hotels with her wares? What about the airfare cost for his sister Phelia to fly to Port Elizabeth from Cyprus? Also, other family members? All this is money these people did not anticipate spending... 

Greg's nieces and nephews are busy writing exams. How can they focus and get good grades while grieving for the uncle who was in their lives a lot? What about my anger and the time I've put aside to write this letter? None of these expenses would have been incurred had the drunk driver made a kinder choice?

I could go on and on.

I want the world to know and understand what we've been through. I want this story to be heard by many people. It's hardly justice for my family, but it's at least something.

There is no excuse when a drunk driver kills somebody. They know what they are doing.

It's murder.