A steel chest plate and Kevlar-type body armour made from a motorcycle jacket protected Jan Molenaar during the Napier seige, an inquest heard.

The police officers shot by Napier gunman Jan Molenaar did not take all possible precautions but could not have known how Molenaar was going to react, according to Coroner David Crerar.

Crime statistics released today show a 9.2 per cent increase in violent offending over the past 12 months.

Jan Molenaar asked police negotiators during his two-day shooting siege to let one of his childhood friends into his Napier house

A police inspector speaking at the inquest into the Napier gun seige said he believed it would end in a suicide or "suicide by police."

nzherald.co.nz's Edward Gay reports live from day two of the inquest into the Napier gun siege.

A music video depicting the stalking and killing of a woman has been removed from YouTube by its record label.

Jan Molenaar's partner has told an inquest she warned police that there would be trouble when he came home and found them searching his home.

nzherald.co.nz's Edward Gay reports live from the inquest into the Napier gun siege.

Two men held a knife to a taxi driver's throat before pushing him out of his cab and driving off - for $30 in coins.