Witness denies shooting cop

Neshanderan Rajgopaul in the Auckland High Court. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A witness accused by the defence of shooting a police officer in south Auckland in 2009 today denied being the gunman.

Neshanderan Rajgopaul, 29, is on trial in the High Court at Auckland for the attempted murder of Constable Jeremy Snow in Papatoetoe.

Mr Snow was shot four time when he and partner stopped to check a car in a driveway of a house they believed was being broken into in December 2009.

Defence counsel Ron Mansfield had the jury that Rajgopaul's friend Darrin Court, who was also at the property that night, carried out the shooting.

But Mr Court told the jurors today: "I'm no angel but I'm telling you I didn't shoot no police officer."

As well as the attempted murder charge, Rajgopaul faces one of threatening to kill, one of firing a weapon with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, four of unlawfully possessing a firearm, and one each of possessing a class A drug for supply and receiving stolen property.

He also faces two charges of assault using a firearm as a weapon relating to incidents between November and December 2009.

He has pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges and the trial is continuing.

- NZPA