A man allegedly assaulted by four policemen says he feared for his life while being beaten with batons and repeatedly pepper-sprayed.
Rawiri Falwasser, 27, said he did not provoke the alleged assault by sergeants Keith Parson and Erle Busby, Senior Constable Bruce Laing and Constable John Mills.
Mr
Falwasser was testifying at the trial of the four officers, who deny assaulting him at Whakatane police station on Labour Day 2006.
Mr Falwasser had been arrested for stealing a car and admitted resisting requests to be fingerprinted and photographed, but said he wanted to wait until a lawyer or his father arrived.
The former bar worker described being pepper-sprayed and then hit "six or so times" with batons on the hands, arms, shoulder and head while in a holding cell.
The wound on his head began to bleed and later required stitches.
He said he was told to "turn around and face the wall" before being pepper-sprayed "again and again" through vents in the cell for about half an hour.
Other witnesses have testified that the 27-year-old was behaving erratically on the day, and Mr Falwasser himself said he was "in a bit of a daze".
Under cross-examination, Mr Falwasser admitted that if he had done what was asked by police, the incident could have been avoided.
His testimony continues today.
