Gunshot defendant friend of legionnaire

The man accused of shooting at a policeman's home in Wairarapa last Thursday was in the headlines last month when he spoke out about his friend, Hamish Sands, who died in Ivory Coast.

Mr Sands, 36, served briefly with the French Foreign Legion and died on April 4 while being held by rebels who claimed he was hired by their country's Government to kill rebel leaders.

The cause of his death has not yet been established.

Robert Glen Walker, 41, a plasterer of Carterton, who said he knew Mr Sands while they lived in Australia, appeared in the Masterton District Court on six firearm-related charges.

They included criminal damage, commission of a crime with a firearm, committing a threatening act with intention to intimidate, carrying a firearm with the intention to commit a crime, discharging a firearm at a dwelling house so as to endanger property and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Walker made no plea and was remanded in custody to reappear on June 8.

The shot was fired through the lounge window of Constable Peter Cunningham's home as he sat down to have a cup of tea. His wife and two teenage children were in bed.

Walker appeared in court handcuffed to a policeman. His lawyer, Peter Stevens, applied for name suppression.

Mr Stevens told Judge Ian Mill that Walker had two young children and there were some family members yet to be told of events.

Judge Mill said he did not see any justification for name suppression and declined Mr Stevens' submission.

Detective Sergeant Mark McHattie, who heads the inquiry, said the Wairarapa public had provided a substantial amount of information.

"There has been a groundswell of public support for police and for Peter Cunningham and that has been very much appreciated," he said.

He hoped the arrest could encourage others to come forward with information.

- NZPA