KEY POINTS:
Riot police were 20 to 30 seconds away from being deployed to clear young people from outside an out-of-control Christchurch party when they heard that a car had run people down in the street, a court was told today.
Police in full riot gear had gathered at a service station only a block from the Edgeware Road party and reinforcements had been called in, the High Court murder trial of Lipene Sila was told.
They had also obtained permission to clear the party house from a 20-year-old who lived there, and who was having the birthday party.
But by the time the police line had moved along the street, the car driven by 23-year-old Sila had struck 28 people and fatally injured two of them.
The riot police came across the injured lying along Edgeware Road.
The trial before Justice John Fogarty and a jury is coming to the end of its third week. It will not sit tomorrow.
Sila denies murdering two 16-year-old schoolgirls who were struck by the car he was driving, and intentionally wounding or causing grievous bodily harm to eight other people.
Sergeant Michael Brooklands said he had passed the party earlier but returned about 10.30pm when trouble was reported by the communications centre.
People were reported kicking cars, setting off alarms, and causing damage.
There was also a request from a Christchurch City Council noise control officer for help to serve a noise abatement notice.
Mr Brooklands said it was difficult to drive along the road because of the behaviour and number of people on the street. The police were abused and bottles were thrown at the vehicle.
Cross-examined by counsel for Sila, Pip Hall, Mr Brooklands said he noted a change in the demeanour of the crowd since the first visit. Some had moved from party mood to disorder mode.
Earlier, the group was mainly well dressed teenagers, but at 10.30pm there was another element present. The difference between some of the groups present was obvious from their dress.
Some had baggy clothes, gang colours were present, and the race was noticeable. He did not see any skinheads.
He saw Sila at a house in Skipton Street, in suburban Mairehau, just before 3am - about four hours after the incident - and found him confrontational and aggressive.
Senior Sergeant Richard Bruce said he was shift commander at the time. He also told of bottles being smashed behind the police car as it drove past the party. It had to avoid two Maori or Polynesian males who were standing on the road.
At the service station, he met a woman wearing an imitation police hat, who was from the party, and asked her to get someone he could speak to about the party. She returned with the 20-year-old male, who gave permission for police to move in.
Police had their safety gear on and were within 20 to 30 seconds of deploying to clear the roadway and then the house when they heard that the vehicle had run people over. Police did not have a view of the incident.
Mr Bruce said he was given the registration number of the vehicle and told officers to make immediate inquiries to find the vehicle and its driver.
He could not confirm figures put by defence counsel Lee-Lee Heah that there were up to 500 people at the party and up to 200 on the roadway outside.
The court is expected to view video interviews on Monday.
The Crown is expected to close its case next week.
- NZPA
