GUILTY: Robbie Richards has been found guilty of running-down a police officer causing serious injuries. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Napier man Robert "Robbie" James Richards has been found guilty of "deliberately and callously" driving into a police officer at a midnight check point near Clive, December 19 last year.
The jury returned after just over two hours with the verdict for a charge of wounding with intent to cause
grievous bodily harm.
Constable Adam Blummont received concussion, a broken leg and facial cuts and scrapes when Richards accelerated and swerved to hit him. Almost one year later he was still recovering and had not returned to work in its full capacity.
Richards turned into Farndon Rd off State Highway 2 where the booze bus was set up north of the Clive Bridge to avoid police because he had an unrelated warrant out for his arrest.
Defence counsel Scott Jefferson tried to claim the evidence given by key witnesses the crown relied on was unreliable and been "cherry picked" for their convenience.