Napier shooting: First steps in examining 'complex' crime scene

Officers at the scene of the siege in Chaucer Rd. Photo / Richard Robinson

Napier gunman Jan Molenaar's house was a stronghold of booby traps and improvised explosive devices, police say.

Superintendent Rod Drew, the officer in charge of the Molenaar investigation, said the house at 41 Chaucer Rd was "a very large and complex crime scene".

He said yesterday afternoon that Molenaar's body remained inside the main bedroom, where a five-man police team found it on Saturday.

The gunman's body will probably be removed today.

Mr Drew said the home of the former territorial soldier was "very much like a stronghold", with many military-style weapons inside and a lot of ammunition.

"There are a lot of booby-traps and improvised explosive devices."

Police have surveyed the scene of the shootings and planned their scene examination.

Mr Drew said a post-mortem examination on Senior Constable Len Snee was carried out on Saturday night and his body was returned to his family yesterday.

A full police funeral service will take place at 1pm on Wednesday at the Municipal Theatre in Napier. It will be followed by a private cremation.

Police said they would be able today to give more detail about the incident.

Part of the hill area of Napier remains cordoned off as a result of the 50-hour standoff between Molenaar and the police.

- NZPA