Accused cop shooter "weaving lies" into story -Crown

Neshanderan Rajgopaul in the dock at the Auckland High Court. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A man who denies shooting a police officer was accused of "weaving lies" into his story in the High court at Auckland today.

Neshanderan Rajgopaul, 29, has been giving evidence in his own defence on a charge of attempting to murder Constable Jeremy Snow in Papatoetoe in December, 2009.

Mr Snow was shot four times when he and his partner stopped to check a car parked in the driveway of house.

He was rescued by armed police as he came close to dying from blood loss.

Rajgopaul yesterday admitted being a firearms and drugs dealer but denied ever firing a gun at another human being.

He said that his friend Darrin Court had been with him on the night of the shooting and he had earlier seen him with a rifle.

In cross-examination today, Crown prosecutor Rachael Reed said it would have been impossible for Mr Court to have shot Constable Snow from his position in the backyard, because the shooter then ran down the side of the property to shoot at their drug associate Gavin Lomas, who was also there that night.

"I don't know what happened after the shooting. I didn't see where he (Darrin Court) ran. I tried to jump over the fence but I couldn't," Rajgopaul said.

Ms Reed said that was "just another lie" he had weaved into his story like he did in his police interview.

Rajgopaul disagreed, but earlier today he admitted he lied in his police interview to protect Mr Court.

"I was still in a lot of shock and had to consider a lot of things," he said.

Ms Reed asked if Rajgopaul was disputing the evidence which Constable Snow gave to the court.

"Are you saying Constable Snow is lying about what he saw that night?", Ms Reed asked Rajgopaul.

Rajgopaul said he thought Constable Snow must have got things mixed up.

Ms Reed asked Rajgopaul what happened when Constable Snow shone a torchlight on him and told him to come out of the bushes.

"I walked towards him and then I was pushed which is why I ended up on my hands and knees on the floor," Rajgopaul said.

He was also asked why he wanted to get away from the police officer so quickly after the shooting if he had done nothing wrong.

Rajgopaul said he knew there was a rifle in the house.

"I didn't want to get caught up in any of that," he told the jury.

Rajgopaul said he did not have any methamphetamine on him on the night of the shooting, even though methamphetamine was found in the pockets of the fluorescent yellow jacket he was wearing.

When Ms Reed asked where the .3g of methamphetamine found by police came from, Rajgopaul said he did not know.

Rajgopaul has previous convictions for being an accessory in an aggravated robbery, carrying an 8cm knife in public and possession of methamphetamine, the jury was told.

As well as the attempted murder charge, Rajgopaul faces one charge of firing a weapon with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, four of unlawfully possessing a firearm, and one charge each of possessing a class A drug for supply and receiving stolen property.

He also faces two charges of assault using a firearm as a weapon relating to incidents between September and December 2009. He has pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges before the jury of six men and six women.

The trial is into its fourth week.

- NZPA