Alleged gunman's family apologise to victims

The mother of the alleged gunman at the centre of a tense police siege in Napier tonight has apologised to the family of a slain policeman and to three others wounded.

An ex-territorial army member and father-of-one Jan Molenaar was believed to be holed up in a house on Chaucer Road on Napier Hill.

Molenaar allegedly fired on the three police officers during a routine cannabis operation this morning.

About 30 armed police have surrounded the house all day.

Senior Constable Len Snee, of Taradale police, was killed and Senior Constable Bruce Miller, a community constable in the suburb of Ahuriri, and Senior Constable Grant Diver, a dog handler, were injured by gun shots .

A neighbour was also injured during the shooting.

All three were in a critical condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital after undergoing surgery this afternoon.

Jan Molenaar's mother Anna told TVNZ current affairs programme Close Up she was sorry for her son's actions.

"I just want to apologise to the police who have been shot and those who are injured and in hospital and all the trouble."

She said when she heard her son was the alleged gunman, she "broke down".

Mrs Molenaar said she was having difficulty understanding why her son apparently had chosen to shoot at the officers.

"What was he trying to protect? That's what I want to know. A silly marijuana plant? What a thing to protect and to take someone's life. Now someone's been shot and two others have been injured.

"I can't comprehend. I just can't comprehend."

She feared Jan's son, her grandson, would suffer because of what happened today.

"All those things that he (Jan) has -- a wonderful son and he's going to have to put up with this for the rest of his life."

She said her son should have thought of the good things in his life instead of picking up a gun and taking the life of someone.

Jan's brother Peter Gerrit Molenaar told Close Up he found out his brother was at the centre of the shooting incident when another brother telephoned to tell him the news this morning.

"He said Jan's shot a policeman."

Mr Molenaar said he didn't realise his brother had firearms in the house, and guessed he had kept them from his days in the army.

He said the only drugs he knew his brother to have were some "tinnies" he shared with his friends.

Mr Molenaar said he had considered his brother may not make it out of the siege alive.

"It was hard," he said.

- NZPA