"Trevor Thompson, spelt with a P" was the fake name given to police by Eli Epiha - about two hours after he fled a routine traffic stop, crashed into a parked car and a bystander and shot two officers, killing Matthew Hunt last June.
In court, witness Shane Conza identified this semi-automatic Norinco in a glass case - similar to an AK-47 - as the one he had helped Eli Epiha to bury. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd
Epiha is on trial in the High Court in Auckland where he has pleaded guilty to the murder of Hunt and dangerous driving causing injury, but denies he was trying to kill David Goldfinch.
Today the arresting officers gave evidence about the moment they found Epiha in the passenger seat of a light blue Nissan Maxima on State Highway 16 near Wellsford.
Officer Robert Cato said he had been helping to look for the unnamed armed offender, who he knew had dark hair and might be wearing a camouflage shirt.
He pulled over the car "by intuition" and when "Trevor's" name failed to match anything in the police database, he handcuffed and arrested him for providing false details.
The man in the driver's seat identified himself as Shane Conza, which appeared to be a legitimate name.
Officer Eli Antunovich said he quizzed the passenger on his true identity.
"He provided me with a drivers licence. He told me the licence was in his pocket and invited me to get it out, which I did. I scanned the licence and it was Eli Epiha," he said.
Cato said he searched the car and an item of camouflage clothing in the boot set alarm bells ringing.
"It was at that time we realised we recognised the t-shirt. Constable Antunovich asked over the police radio for a further description," he said.
Antunovich said it was a "very, very, very strong resemblance".
"The only difference I saw was a different t-shirt and a different jacket."
Today in court Conza explained how he came to be driving Epiha, who was his friend.
Conza said Epiha arrived at his house in Taupaki, northwest Auckland, about noon that day in a Mazda driven by a woman he did not know.
Epiha wanted a ride in Conza's car, but did not specify where to or why, he said.
"He was pretty calm. A little more urgent than usual," Conza recalled.
Conza said he loaded Epiha's belongings into his car, drove Epiha to Riverhead, then helped hide the gun and sprinkle pine needles on it - without asking why.
"I just recall him saying that he'd f**ed up … but that was under his breath. Maybe foolishly, I didn't ask. Sometimes in situations you get a feeling, you just know what's going on and I was scared to ask."
Images of a firearm hidden by Shane Conza after Eli Epiha's shooting of two police officers. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd
Epiha remained in the car and Conza believed Epiha flung a "rugby boot" bag out of the window.
When the police stopped them up the road, Epiha told him to act cool, Conza said.
"He said to be cool. I needed to be cool in the situation.
"I recall he didn't give [the police] his real name."
Today Conza denied knowing the firearm was used in a murder, and denied that it was "stashed" - just "removed" from his vehicle.
He identified a semi-automatic Norinco rifle in a glass case - similar to an AK-47 - as the one he placed in the bushes.
Another police officer, Detective Constable Sam Coumbe, explained how Conza helped to identify where the gun was hidden.
"I had Conza direct me down the side roads until he asked us to stop. They had the AOS go and clear, or look for, the firearm," he said.
Coumbe said Conza also revealed the location of the bag, which police prosecutor Brian Dickey said turned out to be a second firearm.
The trial before justice Venning and a jury continues.
