Court hears of chaos before wheel rim struck down officer

Police allege a wheel rim was thrown like a discus by Stacey Roamana Pakaru. Picture / Jimmy Joe

A "wave of chaos" descended over a crowd outside a 21st birthday party before Tauranga police constable Deborah Jay was struck in the head by an airborne wheel rim weighing about 6.5kg.

She immediately collapsed after taking the full force of the blow in the face and head area, resulting in a fractured skull and six days in hospital.

Yesterday, in the Hamilton District Court, Crown Prosecutor Greg Hollister-Jones alleged the wheel rim had been thrown in a "discus-like" manner by 28-year-old waterside worker Stacey Roamana Pakaru, of Tauranga.

Pakaru faces a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, a sentence that carries a maximum term of 14 years' imprisonment.

He faces an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with reckless disregard for the safety of others.

On the opening day of the four-day trial, Mr Hollister-Jones told the jury that when police arrived outside the party at Welcome Bay, Tauranga, they came under attack from parts of a crowd that numbered up to 200.

Moments before the wheel rim struck, two police officers had detained a male and were in the process of making an arrest and handcuffing him.

Constable Jay was nearby, but was not involved in the arrest, Mr Hollister-Jones said.

Two wheel rims were then thrown from an elevated area.

The first had struck police constable Shaun Skedgwell in the tricep, and a second one hit Ms Jay's head.

In order to get "maximum purchase", the one that had hit Ms Jay had been swung around like a discus before it was released, Mr Hollister-Jones said.

Almost immediately following that, police were seen chasing Pakaru across a car park area toward the hall.

Pakaru's trousers came down as he ran and by the time police caught him he was down to his underwear and a tee shirt. He was aggressive until he was put into a police wagon.

Witness accounts yesterday appeared to cast a shadow on police behaviour on arrival at the party.

Pakaru's cousin Morris Poata took the stand for the prosecution and said the mood of the crowd was "calm" as the party was winding up for the evening.

A scuffle had earlier broken out between some youths.

However, when police turned up, party-goers were put "on edge" due to their numbers.

Police wanted to enter the hall where the party had taken place but no one was inside, Mr Poata said.

Batons then began swinging within the crowd and police forced their way toward the doors.

A "wave of chaos" began unfolding, he said.

Another witness, 20-year-old Renee Tamanui, said girls were screaming and yelling and boys were getting knocked down by police. She was told to leave by one policeman.

"I said we are trying to but there were so many people scattering and running away."

Eighteen-year-old Priscilla Kohotea said she saw an argument develop. "That's when police got involved and started pushing and shoving everyone."

All three witnesses saw the policewoman get struck by the wheel rim. However, none of them had seen the person who had thrown it.

The trial is continuing.