The man who admitted killing Constable Matthew Hunt in West Auckland - but denied it was intentional - will be sentenced on the basis that he meant to cause the death of Hunt, a ruling issued today said.
Justice Geoffrey Venning said Eli Epiha meant to cause the death of the young officer when he shot and killed him in Massey in June 2020.
Epiha is being sentenced on October 1 for Hunt's murder, the attempted murder of Constable David Goldfinch, and dangerous driving causing injury.
A majority jury found Epiha, 25, guilty of the attempted murder of Goldfinch after 11-and-a-half hours of deliberation, following nearly two weeks of testimony.