Napier gunman was 'waiting to burst' - police

Coroner David Crerar. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Napier gunman Jan Molenaar was a "smouldering fire waiting to burst into flame", say police.

Detective Superintendent Rod Drew gave evidence at the inquest into the killing of Senior Constable Len Snee and the suicide of Molenaar which finished today at the District Court in Napier.

Coroner David Crerar has reserved his decision.

Mr Drew said Molenaar was unpredictable and "those that knew him best - his partner Delwyn Keefe and family, had no idea," Mr Drew said.

Mr Drew said the three police officers who went to Molenaar's home on May 7 last year were met by a man with an arsenal of weapons who was determined to "go out with a bang".

Mr Drew acknowledged findings in a Labour Department report which found none of the three officers had worn stab-proof armour, called central communications or conducted a risk assessment of Molenaar.

He said the stab-proof vests would not have protected the police officers from Molenaar's bullets and the officers contacted central communications shortly after Molenaar shot at them.

Mr Drew said Molenaar's criminal record showed his last offence as being theft as a servant back in 1979.

"Each officer was vastly experienced and used to working smoothly with each other," Mr Drew said.

He said the only people who could have prevented Molenaar's shooting were a small group of friends who knew that Molenaar was dealing drugs and was in possession of military style guns.

Mr Drew said Molenaar had told friends that he would "go out with a bang" if his drug dealing was ever discovered by police.

Coroner David Crerar said he had concerns about the lack of preparation carried out by the three police officers but said they could not have known how Molenaar was going to react.

"I have some concerns as to the planning and execution of the search warrant," Mr Crerar said.

"But Jan Molenaar was unpredictable and the outcomes could not have been known by Len Snee, Senior Constable Bruce Miller and Grant Diver."

He also thanked the families of Mr Snee and Molenaar who had been present over the last three days.

"I send my condolences to the families of Jan Molenaar and Len Snee. I know it is awful for you to have to relive the events over the last few days," Mr Crerar said.

Earlier in the day, Molenaar's friend Tony Moore said police should have known Molenaar was dangerous after a shooting in 2003.

He said police did not follow the incident up and as a result, Molenaar believed he had a "green light".

"There was no warrant issued but there was the potential at the time for something to go wrong. Something should have been done," Mr Moore said.

He said police knew who Molenaar was and "knew what he would do in a situation".

However the policeman in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Emmet Lynch, said Molenaar was not the main suspect.

He said a neighbour of Molenaar's was shot at as he stood in the doorway of his home.

Two shots were fired: one hit the door jamb above the man's head and the second went through the doorway and into the lounge room.

Mr Lynch said he took a rifle and rifle sight to the street when he investigated the shooting. He said the person who fired the shots could have been in the nearby botanical gardens, cemetery or houses including Molenaar's.

"There was only one suspect that we focused on during the enquiry and that gentleman was nominated by the complainant," Mr Lynch said.

He said the man was not Molenaar, although police subsequently received information that it could have been Molenaar.

Mr Moore also questioned how police could allow Molenaar to keep his guns even though he had surrendered his firearms license.

He said Molenaar told police that he had given at least one gun to another collector but police did not check up on that.

"He was importing large capacity magazines and plastic grips to turn firearms into military style weapons," Mr Moore said.

He said Molenaar's first two shipments went through Customs but the third was seized.

Mr Moore questioned why police did not follow up on the incident.