By James Murray
Alastair McWhannell, the man convicted of manslaughter after Catherine Peters died using his bridge swing, has been sentenced to 400 hours of community service.
He has also been ordered to pay $10,000 to Ms Peters' family for emotional damage.
McWhannell was found guilty of manslaughter at Palmerston North High Court in June after it was ruled that the rope attached to Ms Peters' was not secured to the bridge and was too long.
At the time the crown alleged that McWhannell was distracted by a woman, who he had met on the internet, that was supposed to do the jump after Ms Peters.
Catherine Peters, an 18-year-old first-year veterinary student, plunged about 20 metres on to rocks below the Ballance Bridge, near Woodville, while on a university trip being run by Crag Adventures on March 7.
McWhannell, 47, remained expressionless throughout the sentencing, and did not make eye contact with Ms Peters' family as they read victim impact statements to the court.
Ms Peters' father, Bosco Peters, said his daughter's death was like "having a wing ripped off a plane while we were flying".
"Sometimes it feels totally unreal, other times it feels like the only reality...Catherine's death is my own personal trial."
He said he lived with the nightmare that her death was preventable, but that the family had never been given any acknowledgement of fault.
Ms Peters' mother, Helen Peters, spoke through tears as she told the court that she treasured every moment with her daughter.
"There should have been so many more moments," she said looking directly at McWhannell.
"There is no way to share the loneliness in my heart without her."
Mrs Peters said it was unbearable that her daughter's death should have arisen from "such gross negligence" when they were such a safe family.
She said McWhannell’s failure to offer any apology and failure to show any early admission of guilt showed he had no true remorse.
Her brother Jonathan said his sister would have lived to 100.
"She should have been able to live but she was thrown off a bridge by Alastair McWhannell."
3 News/NZPA