A detective today fought back the tears as he described how he discovered his colleague lying in a south Auckland driveway after being shot during a night-time surveillance operation that went badly wrong.
Detective Steven Hare was giving evidence in a depositions hearing in which two men are jointly charged with murdering Sergeant Don Wilkinson in south Auckland last September.
John Ward Skinner, 37, and Iain Lindsay Clegg, 35, are also jointly charged with attempting to murder another officer, whose name has been suppressed.
Skinner and Clegg have not yet entered pleas during the hearing in Manukau District Court scheduled to last two weeks.
Mr Wilkinson died at the scene, while his partner survived after being shot three times.
They were taking part in an operation to plant a tracking device on a car in Mangere in the early hours of September 11.
Crown prosecutor Mina Wharepouri asked Mr Hare what happened that day.
Mr Hare told the court he took up his position as part of a surveillance team at the corner of Hain and Massey Roads, and carried out radio checks at the scene.
"We sat in the car and listened to the installation team approach the address. Very little was said. I became aware they'd entered the driveway of the address, and at that stage everything seemed to be OK.
"It then became apparent through the radio that the team were leaving the address and were running to a pre-determined meeting point.
"I recall asking Detective Sergeant Greg Holmes on the radio if he wanted to move in and pick up the installation team." Mr Hare said.
"At that point, he said yes."
Mr Hare said they left their position at the corner of Hain and Massey Roads.
His colleague was driving and Mr Hare activated the lights and sirens on the patrol car as they drove down Hain Avenue past the target address into Earlsworth Avenue.
Mr Hare said they drove a short distance, before taking a U-turn and drove in the opposite direction, attempting to find the missing pair.
Mr Hare said he asked on the radio if anyone knew where they were.
They went past Hain Avenue before taking another U-turn, and drove back towards Earlsworth Avenue.
"We were looking on the footpaths on either side of the road, and into properties and driveways to find them. We had no idea where they were," Mr Hare said.
He described seeing two police cars parked on Earlsworth Avenue, and Mr Holmes was waving at them and indicating to a driveway.
"We both got out of the car and ran in the direction Holmes indicated. At that point I saw the two police officers lying on the ground in a driveway.
"One officer was responsive and talking. He had an injury above his eye. The other officer was not responsive," Mr Hare said.
When the ambulance arrived, Mr Hare said he helped by putting an oxygen mask on Mr Wilkinson's face.
Another undercover officer, who has name suppression, assisted by holding a drip which was attached to his body.
The hearing continues tomorrow.
