Head Hunters trial: Police officer 'tooled up' after spotting stolen car

The trial of nine Head Hunters gang members or affiliates continues in the High Court at Rotorua. PHOTO/FILE

A police officer has described how he and a colleague "tooled up" after he learned a car he'd followed had been stolen and firearms were involved.

Senior Constable Hermanus Hubner was giving evidence in the High Court at Rotorua today in the trial of nine Head Hunters gang members or affiliates.

On trial are Benjamin Paul Dwyer, 28, Stephen William Daly, 33, Jordan Alexander Christian, 21, David Peter Clark, 36, Brent Anthony Gunning, 37, Liam John Kane, 24, Matthew John McDonnell, 45, Stacy Walton Dennis Paora, 29, and Sam Wiremu Rolleston 23. They have pleaded not guilty to more than 100 charges, either jointly or separately.

These include kidnapping, extortion and offences involving firearms. Daly faces a sole charge of theft of a car at Rotorua on February 17 last year.

Mr Hubner said he spotted a black car while patrolling State Highway 1 in Northland on February 23 last year. It caught his attention because the passenger wasn't wearing a seat belt.

When the car pulled into a driveway, he checked its details on his smart device, learning it was stolen and firearms were likely to be on board.

He said he called for back-up and another officer carrying firearms arrived.

"We tooled up ... put on bullet proof vests and picked up firearms," he said.

"While we were doing that, I noticed the black car coming back, I put my hand up to stop it but it just went past."

Mr Hubner told prosecutor Ngaroma Tahana he was 100 per cent sure the driver was Daly with whom he'd had dealings over demerit points.

Questioned by Daly's lawyer, Maria Pecotic, he insisted he had an unobstructed view of the driver despite the car's tinted windows and its speed.

Earlier, the jury was read a series of text messages to and from the woman who was allegedly injured by a sex toy during a tryst on a boat with the alleged main kidnap victim, a wealthy businessman.

One sent by her to her partner, Dwyer, said: "I don't want to be here [hospital] alone. I've been to the operating room, lost too much blood, I want to go home."

A text to her from the businessman read: "Very sorry for making you sick, I will have to take you on holiday trip sometime to make you better."