'He's back again' - trial hears of gunman's return

A petrol station attendant was on the phone to police reporting a man who had pointed a gun at him when the gunman returned minutes later, the High Court at Auckland was told yesterday.

The 111 call from Viliame Fautarau was played yesterday during the trial of Antonie Ronnie Dixon, 39, who the Crown alleges carried out a drug-fuelled crime spree in January 2003.

The Crown alleges Dixon went to petrol stations hours after he attacked two women with a samurai sword at Pipiroa, on the Hauraki Plains, and shot dead James Te Aute at Highland Park in east Auckland.

Dixon has denied the attempted murder of the women, Renee Gunbie and Simonne Butler, and murdering Mr Te Aute.

Dixon also faces firearms, aggravated robbery and kidnapping charges.

Mr Fautarau said he was working at the Mobil station in Highland Park when a man pulled up in a car and pointed a gun at him through the night security window.

As police asked him for details about the incident, Mr Fautarau said: "He's back again. There's people on the forecourt."

Mr Fautarau locked himself in an office, and soon afterwards said the man had driven off.

Mr Fautarau then handed the phone to a customer, Jacqueline Lawrence, who had spoken to the man on the forecourt.

Ms Lawrence yesterday told the court she had stopped to buy a lighter and saw an untidy looking man standing beside his car and holding what appeared to be a gun.

"I asked him what was the matter because he was sort of talking to the world about something ... and he told me he wanted a ****ing ice-cream.

"That's when I realised this was a bit unsafe and asked him if what he was holding was a real gun."

Ms Lawrence said the man told her the gun was real and pointed it at her.

She noticed a red laser beam coming from underneath the barrel.

"It was on me. I freaked out and said 'don't point it at me'."

Ms Lawrence said she asked the man again if the weapon was a real gun, and he pointed it towards a petrol pump.

Something appeared to fall out the back of the gun. The man stooped down to pick it up and then got into his car and drove away.

Under cross-examination from Dixon's lawyer, Barry Hart, Ms Lawrence acknowledged she had told the 111 operator the man looked like he could be a mental health patient.

The trial continues.