Teen claims senior sergeant struck him with bat

A third complainant yesterday gave evidence against a senior South Auckland policeman accused of beating and abusing suspects.

The 17-year-old, who has permanent name suppression, told the Papakura District Court Senior Sergeant Anthony Solomona threatened to beat him up, then assaulted him with a bat, at the Wiri police station last March.

Solomona faces five charges of assault and one of assault with a weapon stemming from allegations laid by the three complainants. He denies the charges.

The youth said he had been at a party in Papatoetoe when he encountered a former girlfriend.

The two had a row which degenerated to the point where he pushed her.

The girl was the daughter of a police officer in Solomona's section, and the youth received a visit from the police a few days later.

He told the court he was taken to an interview room at the Wiri station, where he was told to remove his shoes.

He claimed he was locked in the room for about 10 minutes before Solomona arrived.

He was allegedly told to sit on the floor in the corner of the room as Solomona sat on a chair directly in front of him hurling abuse.

Solomona demanded to know what he was doing hitting girls.

He said he was then given two options: fight Solomona, or take the matter to court.

The youth said Solomona told him he did not like dealing with the courts, and preferred "beating up kids like you".

He was then forced to write a letter of apology to the girl, with Solomona allegedly insisting he use the word "punch" rather than "push".

As he wrote, Solomona is alleged to have stood over him wielding a bat.

"I stood up and then he was just right in my face talking, and he actually jabbed me over here, in the chest."

After delivering a jab with a closed fist, Solomona allegedly told the boy: "Do you feel that? That could happen to you anytime, when you are asleep, at school, stuff like that."

The youth also claimed to have been hit in the chest, chin and lip while being threatened with the bat. He was also forced to pose for a photograph holding a sign saying, "I belong to Senior Sergeant Solomona." The youth was never arrested, or given his rights or caution. He was fingerprinted.

But the youth's story came under attack during cross-examination by John Haigh, QC.

He accused the complainant of fabricating evidence about aspects of the alleged assault, including the force of the punch and whether the injuries inflicted with the bat left any marks.

Mr Haigh was also curious about why none of the injuries drew blood.

"I suggest it didn't bleed because it never happened."

The hearing, before Judge Bruce Davidson, is expected to finish next week.