'Don't shoot him, don't hurt him'

A police officer gave evidence in a High Court trial at Timaru yesterday that Stacey Snelleksz called out those phrases a number of times to police, referring to partner Christopher Shaw as the pair were being arrested near Palmerston on February 2.

Christopher Daniel Shaw (26), panel beater, of Palmerston North, has denied using a firearm against Senior Constable Darrin Low.

• Accused shooter 'not violent'

Stacey Estelle Snelleksz (21), company director, of Palmerston North, has denied two counts of wilfully neglecting a child, a charge of ill-treating a child, and six counts of using a firearm against police.

Shaw and Snelleksz earlier admitted many other charges after a crime spree in January and February.

Constable Stephen Wills, a member of the Timaru armed offenders squad which was deployed, said Shaw was upset, apprehensive and clearly frightened at the time of the arrest. Snelleksz was co-operative with instructions and vocal.

When questioned by Crown prosecutor Tim Gresson, Const Wills said it was clear Snelleksz was very concerned about the situation.

Snr Const Low recounted how a shot was fired as a vehicle drove past him on the roadside near Palmerston. After he had deployed road spikes, he saw an oncoming stolen Land Rover move into the other lane.

When it was about 30m-40m from him, he saw a barrel come out of the front passenger window. As it was about 15m-20m from him, he saw a man had his left arm out of the window and he was holding a firearm pointed in Snr Const Low's direction.

Snr Const Low heard the shot at the time the firearm was pointed in his general direction. As soon as the shot was fired, he dropped to the ground.

Constable Stefan Witehira, who was with Snr Const Low, said it was obvious the rifle was pointed at him and Snr Const Low. As the vehicle went past, he heard a "pop" and both officers "knew for sure" they had been shot at.

After arriving at the scene of the crashed Land Rover, Constable Ryan Mitchell thought it would be a fatal crash and was surprised anyone walked away. "Stupidly", he was going forward to see if everyone was all right before he heard the word "gun".

Later, Const Mitchell said he observed Shaw on several occasions, when challenged by police, turning towards police and placing an infant he was carrying against his chest and presenting a firearm at them.

He believed Shaw was using the child as a "human shield" because of the way the child was being manipulated around his body.

Under cross-examination by counsel John Westgate, Constable Paul Alden said Snelleksz told him she had never been in trouble with police before.

Detective Sergeant Mike Ryder said two empty shell casings were found in the Land Rover. They were the only two spent cartridge cases located by police.

The trial, before Justice Fogarty and a jury of four men and eight women, continues today.