Naitoko's widow seeks truth

Stephanie Cook, 17, takes daughter Hemo, 2, to visit the grave of Halatau Naitoko every Sunday. She stays for a while and sings and talks to him. Photo / Janna Dixon

The widow and daughter of the innocent teenager accidentally shot dead by police on Auckland's motorway are living in an empty flat with almost no money for food.

Stephanie Cook, 17, and her 2-year-old daughter Hemo, rely on support from her family and the family of slain Halatau Naitoko, who would have turned 18 a fortnight ago.

Halatau died instantly in January after being shot in the chest by a police officer armed with a military-style rifle.

His death brought a tragic end to the police hunt for armed and dangerous Stephen Hohepa McDonald, who surrendered shortly after police opened fire.

The inquest into Halatau's death started on Tuesday but has been adjourned until March 1 to allow a legal bid from the officers involved in the shooting to protect their identities.

Cook said she attended the hearing for a short while but found it "very hard". She accused the officers involved in the shooting of being "gutless" for trying to keep their identities private and for trying to have their evidence heard secretly.

"If you shoot somebody you should have to face whatever comes to you. Why should they be treated any differently? Just because you are the police, the law shouldn't change.

"Hala wasn't doing anything wrong. He was driving past, minding his own business. He was just doing his job trying to make money for our family. Whoever shot him should stand up and be accountable like anybody else."

Cook did not return to the inquest after Tuesday. The cost of travelling into the city, paying for parking and finding money for food has been too much.

At the time of the killing, Police Minister Judith Collins said the Government would give the family "whatever it needs. It's the right thing to do. We've got to do it because an innocent person was killed."

She said last night police had been "very sensitive to the needs of the family" and there had been ongoing discussion.

"The principal point of contact in the family has been Halatau's mother, Ivoni.

"A lot of assistance has been provided, as requested by the family. Out of respect to them, I won't be discussing details of that assistance. There have been discussions with Stephanie Cook, and to be fair to her I'm not intending to make those details public."

Cook said she had been struggling and needed help from her family and the Naitokos to move into a house South Auckland with a friend.

The home is bare - two couches are the only furniture, and food is a struggle, despite Cook working as a temp while training to be a manicurist.

Cook also lost her father this year - To Toa Tuaau suffered a fatal heart attack aged 46.

She says Hemo misses her dad has had temper problems after Halatau's death, which got worse after her granddad died.

"She was so close to both of them. My dad is buried not far from Hala so we visit them together."

Cook and Hemo visit Naitoko's grave every Sunday. Cook sits and sings to him, talks for a couple of hours, telling him about his daughter and the events of the week.

"Sometimes when things are really bad I wished that I was with him on that day. I think Hemo still has dreams about Hala. One morning she woke up and said 'mummy, I saw daddy'."

This Christmas, she will return to the cemetery with Hemo. It will be their first Christmas without Halatau: "I am dreading it, to be honest."

Cook said she can't forgive the officers involved in the shooting. "If they have partners and children they should understand how I feel. They have taken Hala away from me and his baby girl. She will never get to know her dad."

But she can't decide if she wants to meet the officers. "I think I could move on with my life if I knew who killed Hala but I think if I met them the hurt would be too much."

Cook said the officers should have to testify in open court. "The public have the right to know what our police are doing. By not fronting up it's like they are hiding something."

And she is frustrated at the delay in the inquest. "I just want the truth to come out because nothing will bring Hala back.

"I want to tell my daughter when she grows up I can't give a reason because there is no reason because he was just driving past."