High speed car chase couple jailed

A Palmerston North couple, who led police and the armed offenders squad on a high speed chase through North Otago in February, were given jail sentences in the High Court at Timaru today.

Christopher Shaw, 26, who pleaded guilty to six counts of using a firearm against police in addition to a string of burglaries, thefts and mistreating two young children, was sentenced to nine years and 11 months in prison.

Stacey Snelleksz, 20, who admitted a similar string of dishonesty offences and mistreating two children, was sentenced to 22 months in prison and ordered to pay $15000 in reparation.

Both were in custody for seven months before their jury trial in November.

The trial was abandoned after two days of evidence when they both changed their pleas to guilty and Justice John Fogarty dismissed charges of being a party to the firearms offences against Snelleksz.

Today Justice Fogarty said, between them, the defendants had taken property to the value of $45,000 from a number of people including a solo mother. He said Shaw, who had only recently been released from jail, was the main offender and the most serious of his offences had using a firearm against police and the second most serious offence was putting the lives of two young children at risk during the high speed chase and subsequent crash.

Justice Fogarty said two police officers had been put at risk and, although Shaw had not been charged with attempted murder, it was extremely serious offending. He said the New Zealand police were largely unarmed and should not be put at risk by such offences.

The jury was told the trail of crime began after Shaw and Snelleksz decided to "go bush" because they feared Child Youth and Family would take her children from them. They stole a Land Rover from Picton and drove to Christchurch where they stole a trailer.

At Ashburton they stole a shotgun, a .22 rifle and ammunition.

Police witnesses described a high speed police chase involving police cars, a helicopter and the armed offenders squad (AOS), from Oamaru to Palmerston, in which speeds up to 150km/h were reached.

The Land Rover carrying the defendants and two small children had swerved to avoid road spikes when a firearm was aimed out of the passenger window and fired in the direction of two constables who had set up the road block.

The stolen vehicle later narrowly missed a man on a ride-on lawn mower before going out of control and crashing into some trees.

The defendants were arrested following a cross country chase on foot during which police said Shaw again threatened them with a firearm several times, fired at the AOS helicopter and used a child as a human shield.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Mike Ryan, who headed the police operation, said police officers were always aware that protecting the public could involve personal danger.

"This case was more dangerous than most," he said.

Mr Ryan said he was proud of the professional manner in which his staff had handled what could have been a tragic incident.

Police have appealed against the decision to dismiss the firearms charges against Snelleksz but a hearing date has yet to be set.

- NZPA