A court has been told a man accused of attacking two women in Porirua in May last year was tasered and shot by police in an effort to subdue him.
Ruka Hemopo, 48, is before the High Court in Wellington on several charges including attempted murder, threatening to kill and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The names of his alleged victims have been suppressed for legal reasons.
Crown prosecutor Grant Burston told the court Mr Hemopo hit the two women around the head and body, before attacking one of them with a claw hammer.
One woman suffered a large wound on her right arm, fractures to her arm and shoulder blade and a spinal injury.
Mr Burston said Mr Hemopo then used a kitchen knife to slice the other woman's throat, before cutting his own throat.
A jury of eight women and four men is hearing the trial. More than 30 witnesses will be called and the trial is expected to run for about a week.
