A clear message has been sent around driving under the influence after the jailing of a 20-year-old, who killed one of his friends in a crash. 

Alexander Lucas Kerr has been sentenced to 27 months in prison after his friend died, and the other was severely injured. 

Kerr had cannabis in his system when he crashed his car in a semi-rural part of Havelock North on January 2. 

Criminal lawyer Steve Cullen told Ryan Bridge this is a stark warning of what can happen. 

He says the starting point's four to five years imprisonment for cases like this, so it's inevitable for someone to find themselves behind bars. 

LISTEN ABOVE

A clear message has been sent around driving under the influence after the jailing of a 20-year-old, who killed one of his friends in a crash.&nbsp;
Alexander Lucas Kerr has been sentenced to 27 months in prison after his friend died, and the other was severely injured.&nbsp;
Kerr had cannabis in his system when he crashed his car in a semi-rural part of Havelock North on January 2.&nbsp;
Criminal lawyer Steve Cullen told Ryan Bridge this is a stark warning of what can happen.&nbsp;
He says the starting point's four to five years imprisonment for cases like this, so it's inevitable for someone to find themselves behind bars.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Steve Cullen: Criminal lawyer discusses the punishment fatal road accidents involving drugs and alcohol

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/db57b863-f45b-4a5c-9a46-b343013b86a1/transcript