A man accused of shooting an Auckland police officer did not fire the weapon, his lawyer told the jury in closing arguments today.
Neshanderan Rajgopaul, 29, is on trial in the High Court at Auckland for attempting to murder Constable Jeremy Snow in Papatoetoe in December, 2009.
Mr Snow was shot four times when he and his partner stopped to check a car parked in the driveway of house.
He was rescued by armed police as he came close to dying from blood loss.
Closing for the defence today, Rajgopaul's lawyer Ron Mansfield said there was strong and reliable evidence to suggest that his associate Darrin Court could have shot Mr Snow.
"You must be sure beyond reasonable doubt who shot Constable Snow," Mr Mansfield said.
Closing for the Crown yesterday, prosecutor Rachael Reed said Rajgopaul was the man who gunned down Mr Snow.
"Constable Snow was gunned down by a man who took his bravado from the guns he carried, fuelled by methamphetamine and his own ego," Ms Reed told the jury.
As well as the attempted murder charge, Rajgopaul faced one charge of firing a weapon with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, four of unlawfully possessing a firearm, and one charge each of possessing a class A drug for supply and receiving stolen property.
He also faced two charges of assault using a firearm as a weapon relating to incidents between September and December 2009. He has pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges before the jury of six men and six women.
The trial is into its fourth week.
