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Family of bridge-swing victim read statements in court

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Ballance Bridge, near Woodville.

Ballance Bridge, near Woodville.

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Thu, 29 Jul 2010 5:31p.m.

By Charlotte Tonkin

The family of the teenager thrown to her death when an adventure swing-ride went wrong have given harrowing victim impact statements in court.

They were giving their views just before the sentencing of Manawatu bridge-swing operator Alastair McWhannell.

Since last March, the Peters' family has been a trio but they still consider themselves a family of four.

Alastair McWhannell was sentenced to 400 hours of community service for Catherine Peters's manslaughter and ordered to pay her parents $10,000 for emotional harm.

The 18-year-old Massey University student was thrown more than 20 metres to her death last march. She'd been involved in a bridge-swing but the rope connected to her harness wasn't attached to the bridge. 

Some of that anguish was expressed in court. The Peters family didn't want to be shown when they read their statements.

In court, Justice Young said mistakes with unregulated activities like bridge-swinging will cause death.

An extensive review into how the adventure tourism industry runs and its failing has been completed.

The report on that review is expected to be presented to cabinet within a month.

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