Eli Epiha.
Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro
Epiha admits the murder of officer Matthew Hunt but denies a charge of attempted murder, in relation to officer David Goldfinch.
In the High Court at Auckland, Epiha is on trial alongside accused getaway driver Natalie Bracken.
He shot the two officers in Massey last June after fleeing a routine traffic stop and crashing into a parked car and a bystander.
The jury of 12 people retired to consider a verdict yesterday morning.
Justice Venning has now told the jury to try and reach a majority verdict - with at least 11 of them in agreement.
Police note both the earlier guilty plea
for the murder of Constable Matt
Hunt and the guilty
verdict for the attempted murder of Constable
Dave
Goldfinch during a traffic stop in Massey in June
2020.
Epiha also admitted dangerous driving causing
injury to a member of the
public.
being an accessory after the fact in relation to the
wounding of Constable
Matt Hunt.
I want to
acknowledge Matt’s family and friends, particularly his
mum Diane and sister Ellie, who have spent two weeks
listening to extremely painful and harrowing details of
Matt’s death. They have shown immense strength despite the
Eli Epiha.
Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro
Epiha had already admitted the murder of Hunt and reckless driving causing injury.
Meanwhile, the accused getaway driver Natalie Bracken has been found guilty helping Epiha avoid arrest.
In the High Court at Auckland, witnesses and experts have detailed the shooting and its aftermath.
Here s how it happened:
19 June, 2020 We re being shot at.
Those were some of Matthew Hunt s final words, uttered into his police radio as he stepped out of a car.
He had just seen 10 shots fired at his colleague David Goldfinch.
The next four bullets would take the young constable s life.
Earlier on Tuesday, Justice Geoffrey Venning gave the jury a majority direction and a Papadopoulos direction, which encourages jurors to persevere with their deliberations and for each juror to demonstrate a willingness to change their view after having carefully listened to the views of others. Epiha’s getaway driver, Natalie Bracken, was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. She told police at the time she felt threatened and had driven Epiha away after he pointed a gun at her.
Stuff
The scene of the fatal shooting of Constable Matthew Hunt in June 2020. Inset, left to right: Eli Epiha, Natalie Bracken, Constable Matthew Hunt.
As stated by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster:
Police note both the earlier guilty plea for the murder of Constable Matt Hunt and the guilty verdict for the attempted murder of Constable Dave Goldfinch during a traffic stop in Massey in June 2020.
Epiha also admitted dangerous driving causing injury to a member of the public.
We also note the guilty verdict for Natalie Bracken who was charged with being an accessory after the fact in relation to the wounding of Constable Matt Hunt.
I want to acknowledge Matt’s family and friends, particularly his mum Diane and sister Ellie, who have spent two weeks listening to extremely painful and harrowing details of Matt’s death. They have shown immense strength despite the fact they are still in the midst of their grief and mourning the loss of their much-loved son and brother.