Motorway gunman pleads guilty on 23 charges

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Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:00a.m. UPDATED AT 6:21PM

Courier driver Halatau Naitoko was shot in the ensuing shootout

Courier driver Halatau Naitoko was shot in the ensuing shootout

The man at the centre of an Auckland motorway shooting that lead to the death of an innocent courier driver has admitted he was to blame.

One by one, Stephen Hohepa McDonald pleaded guilty to 23 charges that arose from a motorway shootout in which an innocent man died from a police bullet.

McDonald admitted aggravated burglary, a raft of driving charges and using a sawn off rifle against police nine times.

And today the 50-year-old had one final shot to fire at police.

"I'm putting my hand up to take responsibility for what happened that day, but what about the officers that shot that kid are they going to take responsibility for what they did?" McDonald asked the judge.

Outside court, McDonald's lawyer said his client blamed himself for the death of 17-year-old courier driver Halatau Naitoko and had been in contact with the dead man's family.

Police told Mr Naitokos family in May that no one would be charged in relation to his death.

Today court documents revealed Mr Naitoko was shot by an Armed Offenders officer trying to protect a truck driver, Richard Neville, who McDonald had a gun pointed at.

Police fired at McDonald twice, however one bullet missed and hit Mr Naitoko.

Police say Mr Naitoko's death is still the subject of a coronial inquest and an independent police investigation. Today they released a statement today saying they are pleased the victims and their families don't have to go through the ordeal of a trial.

Mr Naitoko's family are pleased about McDonald's plea, but made a tearful request to meet the officer who shot their loved one.

McDonald has been remanded to the Auckland High Court for sentencing in September and could receive 14 years in jail.

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Comments

15 Jul 2009 05:45p.m.

tony wrote:

Whats the answer then Guy? Whatever the method for madness 'the crim is the priniciple'. You dont have to have a death penalty but u must exert an authority somehow.

14 Jul 2009 11:07p.m.

Stuart wrote:

The criminal in dock is like every other of his type, he was the total cause of the couriers death, but hey, like every one of his counterparts, "its not my fault".

14 Jul 2009 10:32p.m.

Guy wrote:

Has it ever occurred to any of you that the death penalty has not ever been shown to reduce crime, and in several countries the crime rate went up? When crims have nothing to lose, they tend to commit more crime.

14 Jul 2009 10:13p.m.

tony wrote:

Our crims know they're not going to face a death squad so they go out and kill and rampage over anyone they feel like. While John Key is in the islands living it up his people are dying every day. I wonder if this man really cares about what state this country is in? Did we vote the right Govt in?

14 Jul 2009 10:12p.m.

Steve wrote:

I remember when this story first aired. This man says he takes responsibility, tho Chris now wishes to have someone else euthanise the man who pled guilty today and will soon be sentenced to a fair stretch.
Chris, has it occured to you that a drug economy in the hands of anyone prepared to risk serious time in jail may not attract the most well intentioned of individuals? With some drugs fetching $1000 (cash) a gram, there is no shortage of people prepared to risk it all for handsome reward. Stiffer penalties will probably mean the drugs will become more valuable and attract a harder breed of criminal with more cash to flash. Some criminally minded people are unstable people already. It may not be very wise to put large quantities of bootleg amphetamine and large sums of cash at their disposal...
If you wish for your neighbourhood to mirror what we see on our telly screens compliments of the american dream machine, guns, bombs, murder, goodies and badies etc, just keep thinking the same. Call for the death penalty, doesn't actually work but it might make some feel more powerful knowing that the system kills at their behest.
We saw a documentary on tv some weeks ago where a novice pot smoker went on a pot binge in the cafes in Amersterdam, and clinical pot based trials and assessments in the UK. What was of note was the civilised and mature way the dutch have chosen to handle the issue as best as they can within certain expectations under international convention. Pot use is tolerated, and coffee shops that specilise in cannabis products of seemingly limitless strengths and variety exist peacefully in Dutch society. The consequence is that youth use of the drug is very low, and heroin use statistics have remained unchanged. Over the same period in the UK, rates of young people looking to get high on cannabis has risen dramatically and heroin use is up some 1000%.
Doctors, pharmacists, licensed dealers, legal regulation, treatment services r better than crooks.

14 Jul 2009 06:25p.m.

Chris wrote:

This for me illustrates perfectly what is wrong with this country. This lowlife goes on a P fueled rampage, without the slightest concern for the safety of anyone, and then has the audacity to suggest that somebody else is responsible for that kid getting killed! Somebody euthanize this piece of crap, quick!