Son's death 'burning arrow' mother tells inquest

Halatau Naitoko was shot on the Auckland Motorway during a police pursuit. Photo / Supplied

The mother of an innocent courier driver shot dead by a policeman pursuing a gunman on a crime rampage last year has made an emotional statement about the pain her family has suffered at her son's inquest.

Ivoni Fuimaono said the death of Halatau Naitoko had caused prolonged grief which she and her family have not been able to shake.

Mr Naitoko, 17, was shot dead by police chasing Stephen Hohepa McDonald as he was brandishing a gun on Auckland's Northwestern Motorway on January 23 last year.

"On the 23rd of January 2009 a burning arrow went into my body which left me with an unbearable heartache," Ms Fuimaono told Auckland Coroner's Court today.

She said the family had tried to find ways to deal with it, "but the more we tried, the more painful it became".

Ms Fuimaono said it had been particularly painful for Mr Naitoko's grandmother.

"Every time she hears a helicopter or a police car she shakes and runs into the house and says 'go and hide, the police will shoot us just like Halatau'."

Ms Fuimaono said she was sure the officers involved had been greatly shaken and she hoped something could be done to ensure an incident such as this does not happen again.

Nobody was charged over Mr Naitoko's death. McDonald was sentenced to 13 years jail on 23 charges relating to his actions that day, in which he stole cars, threatened people with weapons and shot at police.

Coroner Gordon Matenga said nobody could fail to be affected by Ms Fuimaono's statement.

He said he would reserve his decision and that he might possibly call for extra evidence.

- NZPA