The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) is not able to complete its investigation into the accidental shooting by police of a Hastings man outside his home in August last year because criminal proceedings need to be concluded first.
The IPCA was investigating an incident where a single gun shot pierced Iriheke Pere's upper back while he was being arrested and cuffed outside his home. The armed offenders squad was sent to the Karamu Rd house after his family reported concerns about his behaviour. It is alleged Pere pointed a gun at his mother days before the shooting.
The investigation was raised in Parliament last week by Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox, who asked what advice, if any, Justice Minister Amy Adams had received about Pere "given that it is over 18 months since he was shot in the back while he was handcuffed and not resisting arrest?".
Ms Fox said it should not take so long for the IPCA report into the incident to be released.
Authority chairman Judge Sir David Carruthers told Hawke's Bay Today that Ms Fox's comment was "inaccurate" because the IPCA was not able to complete its investigation with criminal proceedings under way.