Hung jury in trial of man accused of injuring cop

Senior Constable Sarah Lurajud. Photo / Simon Baker

A hung jury has ended the trial of Jamie Alan Sinclair, accused of injuring a police constable when he unlawfully drove off in a patrol car parked at a drink-drive checkpoint.

Christchurch District Court Judge Phillip Moran discharged the jury at 1pm, noting that they had been deliberating for longer than it took to present the evidence in the trial.

The trial began on Monday with the Crown alleging that Sinclair injured the constable who was clinging to the side of the patrol car as Sinclair drove off after being processed for drink-driving.

Defence counsel Allister Davis characterised the incident as a panicked reaction that was over in 2.8 seconds over a distance of just 17 or 18m before the constable fell from the car onto the roadway in Buchanans Road, Hornby.

The constable struck her head as she fell and was knocked unconscious.

The crown will now decide whether to seek a retrial and Judge Moran remanded Sinclair to a pre-trial conference next Tuesday when a decision will be announced.

Sinclair, 23, a labourer, has admitted unlawfully taking the police car and is set for sentence on that charge on April 1. Judge Moran said the sentencing would not go ahead until the injury charge had been "disposed of finally, one way or the other".

Sinclair did not give evidence at the trial.

- NZPA