Police cleared over two fatal pursuits

File photo / NZ Herald

Police have been cleared of blame over two separate pursuits that left three people dead earlier this year.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority today found that no aspect of police officers' conduct could be faulted over the deaths of Steven John Gorrie and Makoto Izumi in Dome Valley, near Warkworth, north of Auckland, on April 4 and Ricky Allan Forbes near Murchison, 130km southwest of Nelson, on February 21.

Authority chairwoman Justice Lowell Goddard said that in both cases all decisions, acts and conduct of the police officers was lawful, reasonable and justified.

In the Dome Valley pursuit, Steven John Gorrie and his pillion passenger Makoto Izumi died after the 1200cc motorcycle they were travelling on hit an oncoming car.

They were being pursued for a speeding offence but the authority found the police officer was justified in beginning the pursuit, and complied with driving policy throughout.

Ricky Allan Forbes died after a Subaru Impreza driven by his cousin crashed into a tree near Murchison, south of Nelson. They were being pursued for dangerous driving and failing to stop.

Mr Forbes' cousin, Danny Forbes, later pleaded guilty to manslaughter was sentenced to four years imprisonment.

The authority again found the police officer was justified in starting the pursuit, and complied with policy throughout.

Justice Goddard said the authority had made just one recommendation arising from the pursuits.

It again recommended that police adopt new data gathering methods for pursuits involving motorcycles, as first recommended by the authority in 2009.

- NZPA