Policeman's murder accused due in court

A two-week depositions hearing beginning today will decide if two men accused of the South Auckland murder of policeman Sergeant Don Wilkinson should stand trial.

John Ward Skinner, 37, and Ian Lindsay Clegg, 33, are jointly charged with murdering Mr Wilkinson in Mangere on September 11, after he was shot in the chest with a high-powered air rifle.

Mr Wilkinson was planting a tracking device on a vehicle outside a suspected illegal drugs lab in Mangere East .

Both men appeared in a pre-depositions hearing in Manukau District Court on November 12 and they were remanded in custody.

Skinner also faces a charge of assault with a weapon.

- NZPA