By James Murray and Michael Morrah
The inquest into the fatal shooting of a courier driver who was caught up in a police pursuit on an Auckland motorway had its first day today.
Seventeen-year-old Halatau Naitoko was shot by a police officer during the pursuit of an armed man in January.
Two witnesses have been called so far - Constable Steve Vile and Bianca Bush, a woman civilian who was caught in the crossfire as police cornered gunman Stephen Hohepa McDonald on the northwestern motorway.
Ms Bush said that McDonald had rested on the front of her car with a gun. She had been terrified and said he looked "possessed".
"His eyes looked crazy and desperate. the look was just a glance. I was terrified," she said.
Ms Bush was in her car just two and a half metres away from McDonald as he fired a round at police, but escaped the incident unhurt.
Mr Vile was asked about the co-ordination of police efforts by the coroner. He said the police had been co-ordinated by a comms dispatcher and a senior officer had not been involved.
The coroner asked If this could have caused any confusion. Mr Vile replied that it could have, but on this occasion everything seemed to have gone smoothly.
Around 20 members of Mr Naitoko's family wore memorial t-shirts at court to listen to today's evidence.
"It's interesting, part of what's already come is just why police did what they did. Perhaps why they didn't do different options," said Naitoko family spokesperson Peter Sykes.
Two AOS members, one of whom fired the shot that killed Mr Naitoko, are also expected to give evidence, but it is possible they will not publicly sit in the dock like other witnesses.
Their lawyer is going to the High Court this Friday to stop that from happening.
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