The man at the centre of an Auckland motorway drama which saw a courier driver shot and killed by police admitted nearly two dozen charges in court today.
Stephen Hohepa McDonald, 50, appeared in Auckland District Court facing 23 charges in relation to the January 23 incident, which police described as McDonald's "crime spree".
Courier driver Halatau Naitoko, 17, was killed by a police bullet to the chest after being caught in crossfire, as McDonald tried to hijack a truck.
The charges against McDonald include firing at police, possessing a firearm, aggravated robbery and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.
McDonald asked Judge Eddie Paul today what was going to happen to the police officer who fired the fatal shot.
"I'm putting up my hand and taking responsibility for what happened that day. But what about the police officer who shot that kid?" McDonald said.
Judge Paul said he could not respond, but granted name suppression to the police officers involved in the shooting until sentencing on September 22.
Suppression was based on the seriousness of the offending, the sensitive nature of sentencing in respect of the death of a member of the public and the high public interest in this case.
McDonald was remanded in custody.
He originally faced 30 charges, but some were dropped after negotiation with the police.
In May, police decided no staff members would be charged in relation to Mr Naitoko's death.
