KEY POINTS:
A murder charge was laid against a 32-year-old man accused of killing Porirua policeman Derek Wootton in a hit-and-run last month.
The charge was laid when Andrew Popo, of no fixed address, reappeared in Porirua District Court yesterday.
He had earlier been charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop after a motor accident, aggravated robbery and kidnapping.
Popo was further remanded in custody for a pre-depositions hearing on September 26.
The charges come after an early morning police pursuit of a stolen car after an alleged kidnapping near Tawa swimming pool on July 11.
Officers followed the car through the Porirua suburb Elsdon and into Titahi Bay where Mr Wootton, a sergeant at the Porirua police station, was laying spikes on Dimock St to stop the vehicle. He was killed when the car hit him and became the 27th policeman to die in New Zealand in the line of duty from a criminal act since 1890.
More than 1000 mourners attended Mr Wootton's funeral service at the Royal New Zealand Police College.
Mr Wootton's wife and brother, as well as several police officers, were in court for Popo's appearance yesterday.
- NZPA
