KEY POINTS:
A man facing 29 charges in connection with the incident in which police mistakenly shot a 17-year-old courier driver dead on Friday has no memory of what happened, his lawyer said today.
Stephen Hohepa McDonald, 50, unemployed of New Lynn, was a methampetamine user, lawyer Roger Chambers said outside court.
McDonald entered no plea and made no application for bail. Ten of the charges alleged using a firearm against police officers.
He was remanded in custody to appear again on February 5.
"The only part he does remember is a flat bed truck on the Northwestern motorway," Mr Chambers said outside the court.
"But he has no present recollection of anything that occurred before then."
"I don't know how long he has been using methamphetamine. He is suffering both emotionally and physically."
McDonald has two teenage boys, and is estranged from his wife.
"I've had a fair amount of contact with my client. He is a very quiet person and he's quite torn up about this," Mr Chambers said.
McDonald faces 10 charges of using a firearm against police officers and one of unlawful possession of a firearm in west Auckland and one of carrying a firearm with intent to resist arrest at the Glenora Rugby League Club, west Auckland.
There are four charges of converting a motor vehicle. He allegedly took a blue Toyota Corsa worth $5500, a green Toyota Hilux worth $5000, a green Hyundai worth $20,000 and a grey Nissan Skyline, worth $4500.
McDonald faces three charges of failing to stop, two of which were in New Lynn and one in Glen Eden.
He has three charges of reckless driving and three of driving while forbidden in New Lynn and Glen Eden.
McDonald also faces four charges of aggravated burglary in New Lynn, Glen Eden.
The charges stem from the incident on Auckland Northwestern Motorway on Friday in which Halatau Naitoko was killed when a bullet fired from a police rifle struck him in the chest during the crossfire of their engagement with McDonald.
Police inquiries suggest the episode started with the theft of a vehicle in Symonds Street on or about January 6, said Mr Chambers.
"This whole saga started on or around January 6, with a stolen car, which seems to have flowed on to January 23.
"I'm simply representing a person who's in serious trouble, but I'm only privy to what he told the police when he was questioned.
"I will probably see my client again tomorrow. I've already spent hours with him, and will meet his family in due course," Mr Chambers said.
- NZPA
