Four cops on trial over Taser death

  • 28/11/2016
Investigators at the scene of the incident in 2015 (Newshub.)
Investigators at the scene of the incident in 2015 (Newshub.)

Four police officers will stand trial on Tuesday over the death of a man they were trying to arrest last year.

All four are charged with assault with a weapon and have name suppression.

The deceased, Gregory McPeake, is believed to have attacked his parents in their Hastings home on the evening of March 12, 2015.

Police found the 53-year-old early the following morning, sitting in a parked car on Westshore Beach in Napier. Mr McPeake refused to leave his car, and in the ensuing clash was Tasered twice, pepper-sprayed and had a police dog set on him.

Eastern District regional commander Superintendent Mike Johnson said when the officers pulled him out of the car, they noticed he was having trouble breathing and had changed colour, so attempted resuscitation while they waited for an ambulance.

But Mr McPeake died at the scene. His was the first death linked to police use of Tasers in New Zealand.

There were 12 officers involved in the attempted arrest. Police said they believed Mr McPeake was armed.

Name suppression for the four on trial may be lifted once the verdicts are reached.

The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.

Newshub.