Alleged police shooter to defend attempted murder charge

Murray Toleafoa was at large for five days. Photo / Supplied

Accused police shooter Murray Toleafoa will defend a charge of attempted murder.

Toleafoa, dressed in a blue tracksuit, appeared briefly in Auckland District Court this afternoon after his arrest yesterday in a Countdown carpark following more than four days on the run.

His lawyer Ron Mansfield told the court Toleafoa denied the charge of attempted murder, which stems from allegedly shooting at a police officer on Mayoral Drive in the Auckland CBD early on Friday.

He is also charged with unlawful use of a firearm.

The officer who was shot at was not hit, but the bullet passed close enough to cause burns on his forearms.

He had stopped the car Toleafoa was travelling in with his girlfriend, 20-year-old Nadia Ball, after reports of suspicious behaviour on Queen St near Karangahape Rd.

Toleafoa and Ball allegedly dumped the car and evaded police, sparking a manhunt that included alerts to border security.

Mr Mansfield asked for Toleafoa's matters to be adjourned to July 4.

Ball was arrested on Sunday night hiding in the back seat of a car that came to police attention as it pulled out of a south Auckland service station.

She was charged with possession of a pistol remanded on bail.