Police facing further action over alleged brutality

A private investigator working for West Coast man John Menzies said further action would be taken against the police following a violent incident in July last year.

Private investigator Rob Nicholl has disputed Nelson Detective Inspector John Winter's comments that Mr Menzies' allegations of police brutality came to light only in May this year, 10 months after the incident.

Mr Winter headed a six-week police investigation into claims that four police officers were involved at the incident in Dunollie, 8km northeast of Greymouth, which left Mr Menzies with serious face and body injuries.

During Mr Menzies' trial this week on four charges of assaulting police and resisting arrest, his lawyer alleged that the officers kicked and beat him and rammed his head into a concrete pole.

Police alleged Mr Menzies assaulted Constable Terence Hunt, who was lying in wait for drink-drivers leaving the hotel in Dunollie.

Mr Menzies said he was simply walking home from the pub and had banged on the bonnet of a car parked in the dark on a side road he regarded as his own driveway, when a policeman jumped out and said he was under arrest.

The jury acquitted Mr Menzies on all charges.

Mr Hunt told the court he feared for his life as he tried to fend off a drunk and aggressive Mr Menzies with his baton, fists, torch, and pepper spray.

As Mr Hunt tried to handcuff him, they tussled on the ground.

The alleged beating happened when three back-up officers arrived from Greymouth and Mr Hunt told them he thought he was going to die.

Mr Menzies said he was then cuffed, picked up by three or four policemen, and driven head-first into a power pole.

Mr Winter said police had closed the case into allegations of police brutality and the police had not beaten Mr Menzies, who could not remember much of the incident.

He said Mr Menzies' injuries happened during a violent struggle with one officer whose actions had been justified.

Mr Nicholl, who served as a detective sergeant in the Greymouth CIB and spent more than 20 years in the police force, said what the police were saying was not correct.

"They have a vested interest in keeping it quiet. It is inevitable that we will be taking further action against the police."

Mr Winter said a thorough investigation had been completed into the incident and the police had been cleared of misconduct.

Police "steadfastly denied" kicking Mr Menzies on the ground or ramming him into the pole.

- NZPA