Gun fired at cop's head had no bullet in chamber, court told

An Auckland man pointed a rifle at a police officer's head and pulled the trigger, but he had failed to load the gun chamber, a court was told today.

Leonard Archer Hall, 35, has pleaded not guilty in the High Court in Auckland to two charges of attempted murder, but pleaded guilty to 14 other charges, including kidnapping and using a firearm against police officers.

The prosecution alleged that on June 5 last year Hall was involved in a police chase in Auckland's eastern suburbs, where he hijacked a car with three occupants and shot at two police officers.

Crown prosecutor Kane Patena said Hall was attempting to hijack cars in the St Lukes shopping centre when two officers, Karl Pennington and Robert Gibson, arrived on the scene.

Mr Patena said Hall walked over to their police car and pointed the gun at Mr Pennington, who was sitting in the front passenger seat.

"He pointed the rifle straight at [Pennington] and pulled the trigger, but he failed to load a round in the chamber," Mr Patena said.

"Fortunately for Constable Pennington, the gun did not fire, and he is here today to tell us about what happened."

Mr Patena said Hall then fiddled with the gun and fired a shot into the air.

Meanwhile the two officers scrambled out the driver's door on to the ground, and Hall fired a third shot which went through the police car, narrowly missing Mr Gibson's head.

The trial is set down for five days.

- NZPA