Police drop case against newspaper photographer

A newspaper photographer had a charge of impersonating a police officer dropped when police failed to offer any evidence at the Hastings District Court yesterday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Fred van Duuren said police had considered the matter and wished to withdraw the charges. Judge Anthony Adeane dismissed the case.

Hawke's Bay Today photographer Steven McNicholl first appeared in court on November 17 last year, when he pleaded not guilty.

The charge arose from an incident on November 12 last year when McNicholl, 29, photographed the police armed offenders squad leading Iriheke Te Kani Manu Pere from the Raceview Holiday Park, on Gascoigne St, Hastings, shortly after Pere had been arrested.

Police were alerted when Pere, using a loaf of bread to make it look as though he had a weapon under his jacket, approached the sole female shop attendant working in the Angus Inn bottle store.

He robbed $385 from the till before making for the nearby holiday park. Police originally thought the man had a firearm.

Eyewitnesses saw the man leaving the shop on foot, and a police dog was used to help track him.

Pere was sent to jail for 20 months on February 1.

After yesterday's hearing, Mr McNicholl's lawyer, Steve Manning, said his client was relieved the matter was over.

He said he was pleased at the action of the prosecuting sergeant and that it was the right decision in light of the obvious lack of evidence.

- NZPA