Youths appear in court for brutal attack on cop

Senior Constable Bruce Mellor in hospital with his injuries. Photo / Supplied

Two youths were remanded in custody when they appeared in Wanganui District Court today after a police officer was brutally attacked with a machete over the weekend.

The two youths, aged 14 and 18, entered no plea to charges of assaulting Senior Constable Bruce Mellor and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

They were granted interim name suppression.

Police are expected to lay more serious charges at a later date.

Mr Mellor remained in a serious but stable condition in Palmerston North Hospital this morning after suffering a fractured skull, a broken eye socket and jaw and broken front teeth, a "patchwork" of cuts to his face, skull, arms and hands and a massive gash running around his forehead to his ear.

He was attacked with a machete after he stopped a stolen red Mazda 323 hatchback just north of Taihape following reports about the northbound car driving erratically.

The attackers left Mr Mellor for dead by the side of the road before crashing and rolling their vehicle a short distance away.

They collected hay from a nearby barn and attempted to set fire to the stolen vehicle before being arrested, Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann said.

The attack has prompted a call for easier access to firearms for police.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad was presented with a report considering easier access to firearms last week and was meeting Police Minister Judith Collins today to discuss its findings.

- NZPA