Man who punched police officer in the head up to 30 times found guilty

The police officer had been back on the job for two shifts after suffering a stroke when the assault took place. Photo / NZ Police

A man who punched a high-ranking police officer in the head up to 30 times has been found guilty of four charges related to the incident.

Inspector Kerry Watson had been back on the job two shifts after suffering a stroke when the assault took place.

He was heading back to his office in December when he saw a car pull out in front of traffic and weave along a street in Mangere, South Auckland.

After following the black Toyota down a long driveway he was assaulted, fell to the ground and was repeatedly punched by David Hili.

Hili, a 46-year-old plasterer, defended the charges of the aggravated assault of Mr Watson, threatening to injure him, escaping his custody and driving while disqualified, but was today found guilty by Judge Antony Mahon.

In his summing up today Judge Mahon said the fact Hili had admitted to drinking between eight and 12 drinks in a two-hour period at a nightclub in Glen Innes before the incident made his evidence and recollection of events unreliable.

Mr Watson said he saw Hili stagger out of the car and yelled out to him to stop Hili going inside his property.

He tried to engage the man in conversation as he waited for backup, but Hili was not in the mood to talk.

"He just kept saying 'I'm going to f***ing smash you'," the officer said.

"He kept repeating that mantra. It was quite odd."

Eventually the pair came together and Mr Watson said he sprayed the defendant with his pepper spray for about 20 seconds.

But as the effects wore off, he told the court the pair ended up on the concrete with Hili punching him in the back of the head as he attempted to radio for support.

The alleged blows were initially misdirected but Mr Watson said "about 10 connected really well" after the man had grabbed the back of his stab-proof vest.

The prosecution produced a photo of a cut to the back of the officer's head, which saw him hospitalised for several hours.

Mr Watson told Judge Mahon he had been on blood thinners at the time after suffering a stroke only a month earlier.

Hili denied all the charges, and said he didn't know Mr Watson was an officer, wasn't driving the car, and never punched him.

He will be sentenced next month.