Driver hesitated, court told

Robert James Richards

A police sergeant supervising a midnight checkpoint near Clive last year says he had a "sixth sense" when he saw a car approaching, moments before it hit one of his officers.

Sergeant Kent Gilmore said the car "hesitated" for a moment.

"It looked like it was going to come towards us (the main checkpoint), but then it turned into Farndon Rd," he said. "I made a comment to the boys saying, I think Adam's got one there that's a bit dodgy. It was just a sixth sense I guess."

Mr Gilmore was giving evidence yesterday on the second day of a Napier District Court trial at which Robert ("Robbie") James Richards, 29, pleads not guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Police allege he accelerated, turned sharply into a police officer and drove off in a bid to avoid arrest about 12.30am on December 19 last year, when there were two warrants out for his arrest.

Constable Adam Blummont suffered a fractured leg, knee injuries, facial cuts and concussion when he was thrown to the side of the road on impact.

Crown prosecutor Rebecca Guthrie told the court the main issue was whether it was deliberate, but Crown witness Alana Mumby, who had been in the car, said she was driving, having previously told police she wasn't.

Mr Gilmore pursued the car as it left. He later found it abandoned near a paddock where a police dog tracked Ms Mumby. Richards was arrested on the night of December 19.

Constable Dwayne Coffin, who manned the main alcohol checkpoint on the Napier side of the Clive Bridge, said the reason drivers slowed down and turned off was usually because they wanted to avoid police.

"I heard a very large bang and put two and two together and realised Adam had been hit," he said. "Constable Blummont was lying on his back on the side of the road. He was in shock, he was shaking, he had a large laceration on his forehead, his pants were ripped, he was complaining of injuries to his legs, he was quite a mess. It was quite a traumatic time."

The prosecution case ended late yesterday, and the jury is expected to retire to consider a verdict today.