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Four current or former police officers have been charged with conspiring to defeat the course of justice after allegedly lying about the way a man died.
The four appeared in Manukau District Court yesterday. Two including Clinton Hill, who faces an additional charge of assault are serving police officers. They have been stood down from duties.
A third, Benson Murphy, is understood to be an officer in the Queensland police force. The fourth man is a former officer.
Two of the accused were granted name suppression until next Friday.
Hill, 29, is charged with assaulting George Tipene Harris, 24, on October 3, 2004, shortly before he ran into the path of a street sweeper and was killed.
In March, the Weekend Herald revealed that a high-level police inquiry had started into an alleged cover-up over Mr Harris's death.
Yesterday's charges result from that inquiry, led by Detective Superintendent Malcolm Burgess.
The Weekend Herald understands Mr Burgess's inquiry was prompted by new information claiming Mr Harris was assaulted in the back of a police car shortly before the accident.
Mr Burgess would not comment yesterday.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority (formerly the Police Complaints Authority) inquired into the death in 2004 but found no one at fault.
Mr Harris had a 3-year-old son, Julius, with his partner of 10 years, Nii Enoka.
"The family are happy that the matter is now back before the courts so that justice can take its proper course," said their lawyer, Chris Wilkinson-Smith.
They had delayed unveiling a memorial to Mr Harris because they considered the case unresolved.
Police officers told an inquest that Hill, who was off duty, arrested Mr Harris for trying to take his cellphone and was walking him to the Wiri police station when two constables in a patrol car stopped and picked up the two men.
One officer told the inquest that Hill shouted and swore at Mr Harris, but no evidence was given that an assault took place.
Hill had drunk up to eight beers and Mr Harris was affected by alcohol and cannabis, the inquest heard.
The policemen in the car admitted incorrect procedure had been followed in placing Mr Harris on the driver's side in the back seat. Suspects and prisoners were supposed to be placed on the passenger side because that door was automatically locked.
When the car stopped, Mr Harris opened the door and ran away, the inquest was told. Mr Hill gave chase.
Semisi Cocker, who was driving the street sweeper, said Mr Harris ran in front of the truck.
"I thought he was trying to stop the truck," Mr Cocker told the inquest. "I tried to slam on the brakes but it was too late."
