Morrinsville shooting: Wanted man Rollie Heke appears in court

Rollie James Heke via audio visual link in the Rotorua District Court today. Photo/Ben Fraser

Alleged Morrinsville shooter Rollie James Heke has appeared in the Rotorua District Court charged with three counts of attempted murder of police officers.

The 37-year-old was arrested early today at a home in the Kaingaroa Forest township, south-east of Rotorua, ending a 12-day police manhunt.

Heke, who appeared in court via audio visual link, also faces five other charges including failing to stop for police, unlawfully possessing a firearm namely a semi-automatic military-styled rifle, unlawfully possessing ammunition, possessing equipment used to manufacture methamphetamine namely a steam distiller, hotplate and PH meter and possession of material used to manufacture methamphetamine namely three chemicals.

All charges relate to alleged incidences in Morrinsville on August 13.

Judge Greg Hollister-Jones remanded Heke to reappear in the High Court at Rotorua on Wednesday September13.

Max Simpkins appeared for Heke.

Meanwhile, four other people charged as being accessories after the fact of attempted murder for Heke also appeared before Judge Hollister-Jones.

Rangimaria Haami, 62, from Napier, Natasha Dawn Telford, 43, from Taupo, Monique Jane Eggleton, 29, from Hamilton, and Joseph Manunui Long, 32, from Taupo, appeared in court via audio visual link.

Eggleton faces an additional charge of possession of methamphetamine.

Joseph Manunui Long

Monique Jane Eggleton

Natasha Dawn Telford

Rangimaria Haami

They were remanded in custody to reappear in the High Court at Rotorua on September 13.

Officers spent two weeks looking for Heke across the country after he allegedly shot at police with a military-style, semi-automatic weapon on August 13 in Morrinsville.

Police said in a statement released this morning Heke was taken into custody without incident after armed officers surrounded a property.