Policeman who shot knifeman cleared

The officer who fatally shot a "distressed" Iraqi refugee has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

A homicide investigation, supported by a Crown Law review, has found that the unnamed officer was justified when he fired his Glock pistol several times, killing Haider Mahdi, who was stabbing his wife while holding her in a headlock.

The shooting happened on August 14 at Mr Mahdi's home in Pakuranga during a violent domestic dispute.

Police arrived at the address to find the 37-year-old distressed and holding a carving knife.

After Mr Mahdi was sprayed with pepper-spray, he turned on the officers, cutting one in the arm before attacking his wife, Maryam Abed Mahdi.

The injured officer fired several shots, one of which hit the refugee in the head, killing him.

Detective Inspector Steve Rutherford said the investigation found that the officer was justified in firing his gun and no charges would be laid. The Crown Law Office supported that finding.

"The investigation found that the shooting was reasonable in the circumstances."

The force used prevented further injuries to the woman and the officer, "although we can't ignore the sad circumstances that a life was taken", said Mr Rutherford.

The officers involved had been notified of the finding.

He said police had been unable to contact Mr Mahdi's widow, who is overseas.

Following the killing, Mrs Mahdi said she wanted to have her husband's body examined by a second pathologist because she disputed police accounts of the shooting.

Lawyer Nalesoni Tupou said at the time that Mrs Mahdi was considering making a claim against police.

He said there was a "big discrepancy" between what the police and Mrs Mahdi were saying over how many shots were fired.

Mr Tupou could not be contacted yesterday.

The findings from a Police Complaints Authority investigation are yet to be released.