Cop shooting accused faces new charges

The man, who has name suppression, was remanded in custody until February 3 (NZPA)

A man who allegedly tried to murder a south Auckland policeman two days before Christmas shot at another person moments later, say police.

The 28-year-old man, who has name suppression, was charged within hours of the shooting with the attempted murder of Constable Jeremy Snow.

Another eight charges had been added when he reappeared before a judge today, with police alleging he also shot at another man after hitting Mr Snow with four bullets, early on December 22.

Until his second appearance in the Manukau District Court today he had faced only one charge. The eight new charges were:

* shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm;

* unlawfully possessing firearms including .22 calibre rifles, one with a silencer, and a double barrelled shotgun;

* possessing methamphetamine;

* unlawful possession of a 2006 Audi car worth $30,000;

* assaulting Kenneth Caine using a firearm as a weapon;

* assaulting Phillip Andrew Kingi using a firearm as a weapon;

* assaulting Amanda Riley using a firearm as a weapon; and

* possessing a .38 calibre pistol.

Mr Snow and his partner Robert Cato were investigating a car parked in the drive of a Papatoetoe house when a flurry of shots rang out.

Mr Snow was hit four times, once in each leg, once in the left arm and once in the chest.

The chest bullet was stopped by his protective vest and police notebook, but the other three bullets entered his body.

One badly damaged a major blood vessel in his leg and doctors said had he not been rescued so quickly he probably would have bled to death.

In court today the accused man said nothing as his lawyer Shane Tait told Judge Charles Blackie he had not been given a hearing date for a High Court appeal against the judge's ruling yesterday to allow the accused man's name to be published.

The judge had said the concept of open justice was the principal issue and he would not suppress the man's name. An appeal was filed within an hour at Manukau District Court yesterday, meaning the man's name could not be published until the High Court heard the appeal.

The man was remanded in custody until February 3.

Mr Snow, 28, spent several days in Middlemore Hospital before he was discharged to his Auckland flat where he was being cared for by his parents, who moved from their home on Great Barrier Island.

His father, David Snow, said his son was able to push himself around in his wheelchair, but had limited use of his left arm. He could hop up and down on his right leg but was weaker on his left leg, which might need a bone graft.

NZPA