The two police officers at the scene of the fatal shooting of Waitara man Steven Wallace should have formulated a plan before approaching him, Hamilton District Court Coroner Gordon Matenga said today.
Wallace, after breaking a number of shop windows and brandishing a golf club and a baseball
bat, was fatally shot in April 2000 by police in Waitara.
Mr Matenga's inquest findings, seven years after the incident, were delayed due to a murder trial brought against Senior Sergeant Keith Abbott.
Mr Abbott was acquitted of the charge.
The coroner's findings released today detailed the circumstances surrounding Wallace's death, examined police policy in dealing with violent offenders and looked at what first aid care was given to Wallace after the shooting.
On the evening of April 29, 2000, Wallace had driven into the Waitara township after an argument with his sister and father. He had previously been drinking at a local nightclub.
Once back in town, Wallace proceeded to smash a number of shop windows with a golf club.
Mr Abbott arrived at the scene about the same time as Constable Jason Dombroski and Constable Herbert in another police car.
Mr Abbott then saw Wallace smash the windscreen and side window of Mr Dombroski and Ms Herbert's car - at which stage Mr Dombroski asked police communications to tell Mr Abbott to arm himself.
Both officers subsequently retrieved guns from the police station while Ms Herbert observed Wallace.
During this time the officer's commanding officer, Sergeant Fiona Prestidge, had left the command centre in New Plymouth to get to the scene and had ordered a dog team to get to the area.
Mr Dombroski knew the dog team was on its way, but failed to tell Mr Abbott.
Both officers approached Wallace who threw the golf club at Mr Abbott, which missed him. At the time he was threatening to kill Mr Abbott.
While Wallace was closing in on Mr Abbott, Mr Abbott fired a warning shot and then a fatal shot at Wallace. He died in hospital a short time later.
- NZPA
