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The family of murdered liquor store owner Navtej Singh have made a formal complaint against the police, who they say waited at a cordon for nearly 45 minutes while the fatally wounded man lay bleeding on the floor.
The complaint, by Navtej's father, Nahar Singh, will be investigated
by the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
Auckland Sikh Society spokesman Ajit Singh Randhawa said Navtej's murder had deeply affected the Sikh community.
"It is something that keeps haunting us," he said.
Three weeks ago the community met Navtej's family, who were concerned they had not heard from police since his murder in June.
As a result of that meeting the family decided to lay a formal complaint that focuses on the delay in getting help for him at the scene.
"There are some questions that are still unanswered and we hope this inquiry will get to the bottom of what happened after the shooting of Navtej," Mr Randhawa said.
He said family and witnesses had described "screaming for emergency services" from inside the shop.
"They could hear emergency services - the police and the ambulances - virtually hiding behind the bushes while life ebbed away from this young man.
"He lay there for almost 40-45 minutes before emergency services picked him up. That is something that has upset the community and something the family cannot come to terms with and they want answers to that."
Navtej's father said lodging a complaint would hopefully bring closure for his grieving family, who partially blamed the police for what happened.
"I feel ... those offenders who came and killed my son are of course guilty, but equally the police and the services who couldn't get there in time and the delay that took place, I feel they are equally guilty in this situation."
Police and St John said at the time of the shooting that they were following procedure by waiting at cordons for armed backup.
That angered the family, who repeatedly told a 111 operator that the offenders had fled in a vehicle and it was safe to enter.
Police spokeswoman Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey said police could not comment now given the case was both before the courts and under investigation.
The family haven't ruled out taking further legal action against the police but say they want to await the inquiry results first.
Meanwhile, South Auckland's Sikh community have come together in a bid to help other store owners after a week of high-profile attacks - including the stabbing of a dairy owner and the arrest of an Otara liquor store owner who fought with a group of youths.
"We have decided we are going to take a pro-active stance on some of these attacks that are happening against retailers," said Mr Randhawa.
Store owners had been left feeling unsure how to act, he said.
Retailers planned to start to a fund and find what they needed to do to protect themselves.
