'Small-time drug dealer' tried to kill officer, court told

Constable Jeremy Snow. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Constable Jeremy Snow called out to a man hiding behind a tree in the dark. Minutes later the officer lay shot on the ground, bleeding profusely from a wound in his leg.

Neshanderan Rajgopaul, 29, is charged with the attempted murder of Mr Snow and 10 other charges, including fire arms charges and possessing methamphetamine. He has pleaded not guilty in the High Court at Auckland where his trial began today.

The Crown says Mr Snow and his partner Constable Robert Cato were on a routine patrol in the early hours of the morning, three days before Christmas in 2009.

The officers were in Papatoetoe when they noticed an Audi with its indicators on, as if the alarm had been tripped.

Mr Snow approached the car when he noticed a firearm in the back. He also saw someone moving in the back of the property.

He saw the man duck behind a tree and called out to him. Shining his torch, he saw a man wearing a fluorescent jacket.

Crown prosecutor Rachael Reed said the man crouched down, held his gun with both hands and fired.

She told the jury Rajgopaul was high on methamphetamine when he fired at Mr Snow.

Mr Snow's femoral artery was ruptured and he almost bled to death.

Another bullet lodged in his notebook, tucked inside his stab proof vest.

"In the early hours of the morning, Neshanderan Rajgopaul attempted to murder Constable Jeremy Snow. He almost did murder him," Ms Reed said.

She described Rajgopaul as a "small-time drug dealer" who carried an arsenal of guns.

Some of the charges relate to Rajgopaul threatening his associates with guns in the days leading up to the shooting of Mr Snow.

More than 40 witnesses, including police officers, forensic scientists and friends of Rajgopaul will be called by the Crown in the case which has been set down for three weeks before a jury of six men and six women.