KEY POINTS:
An infamous Northland criminal who survived being shot in the back while stealing a quadbike has died suddenly after having difficulty breathing.
Moerewa farm worker Sam Hati hit the headlines in 2002 when he was taken to Auckland Hospital in a critical condition after Kawakawa farmer Paul McIntyre shot him as he tried to drive away with the quadbike loaded on to a ute.
Hati got out of the vehicle, slumped to the ground and lay bleeding for two hours until the police armed offenders squad felt safe to approach him.
Last Sunday 35-year-old Hati was with family members driving to Whangarei. They stopped at Whakapara service station about 1.30pm when Hati started having trouble breathing, sources told the Northern Advocate.
St John ambulance staff arrived and attempted to resuscitate Hati for 15 minutes, but were unsuccessful.
In October 2002, Mr McIntyre shot Hati, one of three thieves he caught stealing his quadbike on his isolated Bay of Islands farm.
After a 2 1/2-year legal battle, Mr McIntyre was cleared in April 2005 of any wrongdoing.
Hati was sentenced to 250 hours' community work and 12 months' supervision on charges of theft and possession of a firearm.
- Northern Advocate
