Family mourning for shot son a year on

Patrick Teputepu (left), Halatau Naitoko's brother, and his mother, Ivoni Fuimaono, with a banner for today's feast. Photo / Steven McNicholl

The family of a teenage courier driver accidentally shot dead by police a year ago will today unveil his headstone.

Ivoni Fuimaono, the 38-year-old mother of Halatau Naitoko, 17, has spent the week preparing a traditional Tongan feast for more than 200 guests at her Mangere home, which will follow a ceremony at the Mangere Cemetery where Halatau is buried.

"I've been crying everywhere I go," she said yesterday.

"Because today is Friday and my son died on a Friday. My memories go back to that day.

"Even though it has been a year, my heart and mind is still mourning. It's hard but we get through it day by day."

Halatau died on January 23 after being shot in the chest by a police officer on the Northwestern Motorway while doing his courier run for Kiwi Express, the company run by his mother and stepfather, Kepu Teputepu.

He had become caught up in the end of a high-speed, armed pursuit of Stephen Hohepa McDonald, who surrendered shortly after police opened fire.

The inquest into Halatau's death started late last year but was adjourned until March to allow a legal bid from the officers involved in the shooting to protect their identities.

Ms Fuimaono said the ceremony would start at noon and the eldest of her nine daughters, Sekola Naitoko, would read the inscription on Halatau's headstone, a passage from the Bible's Book of Ephesians.

"It means if he was still alive he would continue living for Christ but now that he has passed away he will gain more blessings from God. I believe death is a blessing."

An Assembly of God pastor will bless the grave before the family sing.

The service will be followed by a celebration feast at Ms Fuimaono's home, where Halatau's body lay in the days before his funeral.

At least 20 pigs will be roasted on a spit and popular Tongan food, such as taro and chop suey, will be served.

A large marquee has been erected to house the guests and a banner put up saying, "A son with so many dreams and so little time".

Ms Fuimaono said she held no resentment towards the police.

"My attitude is the same as it has been since day one, I was never angry at them. What's done is done. Maybe it was God's plan, we never know what's going to happen in the future."

Halatau's girlfriend, Stephanie Cook, said she and their 2-year-old daughter Hemo, who live in Manurewa, still miss him terribly.

"He was really good with baby, he was always playing with her."