"He's a coward and he just hasn't accepted his role."
Those were the words of the Auckland truck driver who eight months ago stared down the barrel of Stephen Hohepa McDonald's sawn-off rifle during a pursuit that led to an innocent teenager being shot dead by police.
Yesterday Richard Neville
sat metres from McDonald, 50, in the High Court at Auckland - "frustrated at how close he was" - as Justice Rhys Harrison sentenced McDonald to 13 years imprisonment, with minimum non-parole of eight years.
McDonald had admitted 23 charges in relation to the pursuit, including firing at police, possessing a firearm, aggravated robbery, and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.
Mr Neville - whose left arm is still bandaged and covered by a heavy-duty guard because of shrapnel wounds - said he doubted McDonald was genuinely remorseful.
"It's a pretty powerful thing to swallow. Judging by the fact that he had 36 years of crime and had only been out of jail two days." He was unsure putting McDonald back in prison was the answer - "because that's not working".
Twenty-four people made victim impact statements in relation to the P-fuelled pursuit through West and Central Auckland that ended with the death of 17-year-old Halatau Naitoko and left a "trail of misery for a number of people".
The unnamed police officer who fired the shot that ricocheted and killed Mr Naitoko is understood to be considering leaving the force.
"So much of my days and sleepless nights are spent asking myself what if," the court heard, from his victim impact statement.
Police decided not to lay charges against the officer and Justice Harrison yesterday freed him of blame.
"I have no doubt you are the person who is responsible for his death," he said, looking at McDonald.
The Coroner and the Independent Police Conduct Authority are still investigating, but a police investigation - reviewed by John Haigh, QC - found no criminal culpability.
Standing in the dock, with his arms crossed and jaw set McDonald's face was expressionless for most of yesterday's hearing.
His lawyer Roger Chambers said McDonald believed there was no need for the large-scale police pursuit, which he said was like out of a movie.
But after a lifetime of offending - Justice Harrison referred to McDonald's first appearance in the Levin Youth Court - there was no question he would do time. "You have spent most of your life in penal institutions, which shows your propensity for violent offending."
McDonald did not do himself any favours during the hearing.
Soon after Mr Chambers spoke of his alleged desire to stop offending and live in his home again, he interrupted Justice Harrison mid-sentence, swearing and saying "that never happened!".
A death in the Naitoko family prevented them from attending court. But they too cleared police of blame.
Yesterday family spokesman Peter Sykes said the sentencing had brought some form of closure.
Stephen McDonald. Photo / Supplied
"He's a coward and he just hasn't accepted his role."
Those were the words of the Auckland truck driver who eight months ago stared down the barrel of Stephen Hohepa McDonald's sawn-off rifle during a pursuit that led to an innocent teenager being shot dead by police.
Yesterday Richard Neville
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