22 Jul 2021

Epiha admits he left shot police offer asking for help

From Checkpoint, 5:09 pm on 22 July 2021

The man who shot police constable Matthew Hunt admits he walked away from the dying officer as he was asking for help.

Eli Epiha has been described as "fully engaged" and intent on killing officers when he shot one dead in an Auckland suburb last year.

The 25-year-old admits killing Constable Matthew Hunt on a street in Massey, but denies the attempted murder of Constable David Goldfinch.

The Crown says he always planned to open fire on police, while Epiha says he was on a mission to protect his family.

Katie Todd reports from the High Court in Auckland.