Rhys Bugden News Today

Ahead of the sentencing Bugden’s husband Rhys read an emotional victim impact statement, crying throughout. He said that as the physical injuries from the collision that almost killed him slowly heal, he found the mental anguish increasing. “The sadness became unbearable,” he said. “I’m missing my wife. She was my soul mate. It feels like half of me is gone. . . it’s difficult to go on without her, moments of happiness are very few.” Michelle Lee, a friend of Bugden’s who w...

Those close to her say she handled those traumatic shifts with aplomb. According to the police summary of facts McMillan was driving towards Rotorua on December 14, 2019, while Budgen, her husband Rhys Budgen and two others were travelling towards Whakatāne. “The defendant approached a moderate right hand corner, he crossed the centre line and drove onto the wrong side of the road,” the summary said. “This caused him to collide head on with the victims vehicle heading the opposite di...