Body armour difficult for covert work, says shot officer's colleague

Sergeant Don Wilkinson. Photo / Supplied

A police officer who was at the scene where an undercover officer was shot dead in 2008 says he finds police body armour too uncomfortable for covert work.

The officer, who has name suppression and is known as Officer W, told an Auckland High Court jury today that neither he nor Sergeant Don Wilkinson, wore body armour in the operation in which Mr Wilkinson was shot.

John Skinner and Iain Clegg are on trial for murdering Mr Wilkinson and attempting to murder an officer whose name is suppressed.

Officer W, who has been with the police technical support unit for 21 years, said he had a briefing with Mr Wilkinson and his colleague, known as Officer M, at an Otahuhu police station early on September 11, 2008.

They talked about plans to attach a tracking device to a vehicle at Skinner's Mangere home as part of a drugs operation.

Officer W said Officer M put on a stab-resistant body armour suit but he and Mr Wilkinson did not.

"It's very hot, it's very bulky and if you're trying to do covert duties it's quite detectable if you're trying to work in confined spaces," Officer W said.

"It's an issue for the police department and it's a shame to bring it out in this arena but it's something that has to be addressed."

The officers went to the scene and Officer W waited outside Skinner's address as Officer M and Mr Wilkinson went inside the fence line.

They knew the address had outdoor sensor lights and Officer W recalled seeing them activated by his colleagues.

He recalled a man coming out the front door saying something like "hey you, what the f*** are you up to?"

Officer W said he then told his officers through his radio to "f***ing hoof it".

Mr Wilkinson and Officer M were shot in a driveway in a neighbouring street soon afterwards.

The trial before Justice Geoffrey Venning is in the third day of what is expected to be a three week trial.

- NZPA