Undercover officer relives night of horror

Sergeant Don Wilkinson was killed during what was supposed to be a simple job. Photo / Supplied

It was supposed to be a simple job for Sergeant Don Wilkinson and his partner. Plant a tracking device in the vehicle owned by John Ward Skinner.

As an electronics expert with the police technical support unit, Mr Wilkinson and his two undercover colleagues had done this sort of routine operation dozens of times. But in the early hours of September 11 last year, it all went wrong.

A depositions hearing at the Manukau District Court heard this week how the undercover trio, dressed in dark clothes, rolled-up balaclavas and backpacks, walked past the Hain Ave target, before ducking into the neighbouring driveway.

Hiding in the shadows and shrubs, the officers waited for five minutes to "get a feel" for any movement in the house, before deciding to proceed with the plant.

Officer M and Mr Wilkinson walked through the open gateway, leaving Officer W to keep "an eyeball" on the front door. Again the pair squatted in the shadows for a few minutes before Mr Wilkinson stood up and moved forward just a few metres, triggering a sensor light.

"Don turned back towards me. I heard the deadbolt on the door snip, and all the floodlights in the courtyard came on," Officer M said.

"We just looked at each other and started running."

Officer W said he told the pair to "get out of there" before ducking down behind the fence to consider his next move.

"I had two options: being caught like a rat in a hole, or wandering down the road like an old bloke taking a stroll. I took the second option."

The 42-year police veteran had nearly crossed Hain Ave before he was confronted by Skinner.

"I'd just about reached the footpath before I was challenged by a person standing in the driveway, holding a rifle pointed directly at me," said Officer W.

Ordered by Skinner to put his hands up and cross the road, Officer W pleaded ignorance before being interrupted by a Nissan Skyline, driven by Iain Clegg, leaving the driveway.

Skinner got in and the Skyline headed towards where the two officers fled down Earlsworth Rd, "laying rubber, wheels spinning", according to Officer W.

Clegg's counsel Graeme Newell asked Officer W why he failed to warn his fleeing colleagues that two men with a gun were in pursuit.

"At that moment, I was still gathering my thoughts. The next thing I heard was distressed radio traffic. We're talking about an extremely short amount of time."

Again, Mr Newell asked Officer W, "Why didn't you identify yourself as a police officer to stop them?"

"That never crossed my mind. During these operations, you come across situations where you have to bluff your way out of them. The last thing we do is identify who we are."

Mr Wilkinson and Officer M had slowed to a walk, believing that Skinner was "a fairly unfit, large person" and unlikely to chase on foot.

They had reached their car when they heard Clegg's Skyline and, without speaking, they ducked into the driveway of 41 Earlsworth Rd.

The Skyline drove past, stopped and then reversed.

Officer M radioed for backup, put his backpack down and put his hands in the air. Clegg advanced towards him and asked what he had been doing.

Before Officer M could bluff his way out of trouble, Skinner got out of the car and pointed the air rifle at his chest.

A sudden blow from Clegg broke Officer M's nose and split his left eyebrow.

"I threw my hand up and got shot through the forearm. I fell on the ground, got shot in the back, then the leg," Officer M said. The air rifle projectile went straight through his arm and into his body armour.

"I heard three quick shots, I believe at Sergeant Wilkinson. After the shots, there was a lot of groaning and gurgling."

With blood pouring down his face, Officer M rolled over to talk to his partner, lying face down 2m away. There was no response. He radioed for help, shouting the name of Officer W over and over again.