"He was trying to be a hero your honour"

An excellent excuse

"The appellant, Belinda Ann Sutherland, pleaded guilty in the District Court at Masterton to nine charges, arising out of three separate incidents, as follows:
...
Six charges arising as a result of the appellant being stopped at an alcohol checkpoint on 11 December 2005, being ... aggravated injury, failing to stop and ascertain injury, driving in a dangerous manner and driving with excess breath alcohol...

The appellant refused to get out of the car or hand over her car keys, and suddenly accelerated away from the scene, hitting the civilian assistant as she did so. He fell across the bonnet of her car and was carried approximately 30 metres before the appellant deliberately swerved and dislodged him. The civilian assistant suffered multiple injuries in the fall, including bruising and lacerations, a broken collarbone and a broken rib. The appellant failed to stop to ascertain whether the victim was injured.
...
In questioning about these incidents, the appellant said to police that the victim should not have jumped on her car, and should not have been a hero."

 Police v Sutherland - HC, 27 June 2006