Underworld forces hero from home

Lenny Holmwood on the Chaucer Rd hill. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The civilian who almost lost his life preventing gunman Jan Molenaar killing two policemen in Napier has left Hawke's Bay to flee harassment from the area's criminal fringe.

Lenny Holmwood, who suffered permanent injuries three years ago today when shot by a man he considered a friend, said some people think he's a "nark" because of his association with the police since the shooting.

The grapevine had alerted him several times to the possibility of reprisal "visits" and "hits" on his home.

Leaving meant he had to give up the only job he's had since he intervened in the shooting of Len Snee and two fellow senior constables on May 7, 2009.

Mr Holmwood said he had had no association with the police before the fateful events unfolded during a mid-morning visit to the home of Molenaar and partner Delwyn Keefe, whom he knew through the cannabis scene.

For his part in saving the police officers, Mr Holmwood was awarded the New Zealand Bravery Star - the second-highest bravery award for a civilian - and was the Herald New Zealander of the Year for 2009.

But he says some people have been unable to accept there is nothing to his relationships with police other than the bonds forged on that day, when the real heroes, he says, were the officers who ignored Molenaar's volleys to drag him to safety.

It all became too much and late last year, he gave up the joinery workshop job he had had for eight months and left Hawkes Bay. "I needed to de-stress. I'd had enough."

Mr Holmwood visited Napier last week to join surviving police officers Bruce Miller and Grant Diver, Senior Constable Snee's widow, Vicki, and about 40 others for a premiere screening of City Under Siege, the movie based on the shooting and the 50-hour standoff that followed.

His involvement started with a casual visit to 41 Chaucer Rd - walking from Guy's Hill Rd, where he lived in a modest flat with a stray cat called Scrappy and a budgie called George.

He arrived to find Ms Keefe talking to the three police officers, who had arrived to search for drugs.

Molenaar arrived home moments later from a walk with his dog, grabbed a gun, ordered everyone out, and began firing from his balcony as they retreated to the street. He hit the trio.

As Molenaar went down to the street, he was confronted by Mr Holmwood, who grabbed the firearm and wrestled for control, successfully stopping the wounded officers from being shot again.

But Molenaar, who was bigger, threw his mate to the ground and shot him in the hip.

Mr Holmwood was rushed to hospital in Hastings with life-threatening injuries. He spent the first three days in a coma and several weeks recuperating.

Last week, at The Globe Theatrette in Ahuriri, Mr Holmwood found watching actors on screen filling in the missing pieces "emotional". There were few dry eyes as the premiere ended.

"It's been a helluva three years for everyone coping with it," said Mr Holmwood, who pondered suicide in some of the darker moments since the siege. "Some people say it's a bit soon, the memories are a bit raw for everyone, but I guess the story's got to be told."

He said he "probably" would have enjoyed it as a movie had he not been so closely involved, and said his portrayal by actor Jon Cummings, although "dramatised", was accurate.

There were no portrayals of Scrappy, who died months after the siege, and George, who died last week.

As for his injuries, Mr Holmwood said: "The leg's still a bit shot. I'm still suffering a bit of pain, and cramping, but it is getting better. There are not many people who can keep up with me when I'm out walking."