For the first time the Herald can reveal the full role Margaret Mann played in the lead-up to the motorway shooting that killed an innocent man.
The 19-year-old will be sentenced in April after pleading guilty to three charges relating to the police shooting that ended with the
death of 17-year-old Halatau Naitoko.
According to a police summary of facts released to the Herald, Mann was driving a stolen Toyota on January 23 when she was seen by two constables at
about 1.10pm.
The officers were making inquiries at a Seabrook Rd address when Mann, with an associate, drove up the driveway.
When she saw the police car she turned and drove back down the driveway towards the road. Police followed her on to Seabrook Rd and then on to West Lynn Rd.
Once they were close behind on Titirangi Rd the officers began flashing red
and blue lights and sounded the siren. Mann sped up and turned left on to Pleasant Rd and on to the intersection with West Coast Rd.
She continued towards Bowers Rd, reaching speeds up to 90km/h. The speed limit there is 50km/h.
Police continued to follow with the siren sounding and lights flashing and Mann
eventually slowed down and moved to the left side of the road as she approached the intersection of Woodvale Rd and Glendale Rd.
Believing she was about to stop, the police car moved in behind the Toyota when one of the constables saw the associate kneeling on the backseat facing them, looking out the rear window.
He was holding a firearm pointing at police.
The constable accelerated away and called for back-up. When the officers turned around they saw the vehicle was empty and both Mann and her associate were gone.
She was arrested a short time later.
