By Michael Morrah
Halatau Naitoko's family are not angry with the police officer who shot and killed the 17-year-old.
But they've been at his inquest this week wanting to know exactly how it happened.
They'd also hoped to meet the man who fired the fatal shot.
Lawyers for two armed offenders officers went to the High Court today to appeal a decision requesting them to give evidence in open court.
Their lawyer wanted the Judge to consider ruling that
* The officers sit in a separate room and give evidence through a surrogate officer.
* Or that the officers give evidence from another location with their voices distorted.
But the lawyer for the family argued that that was too complex.
“It was very difficult to cross examine witnesses with voice scrambled,” the lawyer said.
Although a final decision wasn't made, it's likely some members of the family will be allowed to listen to the two officers give evidence.
“All I can say is that the family will be delighted with the outcome,” says Mr Sykes.
Members of the Naitoko family will have to wait until March next year before they hear what Officer 84 - the one who shot Halatau has to say.
That officer will not face charges but it's likely his evidence will help the coroner make recommendations so such a tragedy doesn't happen again.
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