Court hears of checkpoint hit-and-run cop's injuries

Robert James Richards

A policeman allegedly run down by a wanted man remains unable to return to full duties almost a year after he received the injuries, a jury was told today in Napier District Court.

Constable Adam Blummont broke down in tears as he recalled the moment and its consequences, on the first day of the trial of 29-year-old Robert James Richards who has pleaded not guilty to a charge of wounding the officer with intent to injure him early on the morning of December 19 last year.

The officer was part of a team running a checkpoint on State Highway 2 just north of Clive about 12.30am, and was stationed just off the highway in Farndon Rd to try to stop anyone trying to avoid the booze-bus checkpoint.

Crown prosecutor Rebecca Guthrie told Judge Bridget Mackintosh and the jury the Crown believed Richards deliberately drove at the officer.

Mr Blummont had just received a text message from his wife wishing him a happy birthday when he first saw the vehicle said to have been driven by Richards. He told the court it braked and then accelerated, and then swerved into him.

He said his mouth began to fill up with blood and his legs were flung above his head as he was thrown to the side of the road.

As the vehicle sped off, a member of the public found Mr Blummont unable to move, Ms Guthrie had told the jury.

The officer suffered concussion, a fractured leg, knee injuries and multiple skin abrasions to his face.

While Richards denied the charger, he did admit a charge of wilfully damaging a motor vehicle owned by a person he visited immediately after the incident.