Houpapa ruling clears way for inquest

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34149, 10 May 1976, Page 2

Houpapa ruling clears way for inquest

(Neie Zealand Press Associat ion) WANGANUI, May 9. The Commander of the Wanganui police district (Superintendent Bryan Dean) is “pleased but not surprised” with the Solicitor-General’s decision that the fatal shooting of a youth by the police at Taumarunui in January was justified.

“I am particularly pleased that the incident has now been reported on objectively, as compared with earlier statements, which were based on ill-informed assumptions." he said. The report of the SolicitorGeneral (Mr R. C. Savage) said that Mr Savage was of the opinion that the police officer’s action was justified in terms of sections 39 and 41 of the Crimes Act. «• “The circumstances were such.” the opinion says, “that the officer who fired the fatal shot did so to prevent an act

which he had reasonable grounds for believing would, i if done, amount to the commission of an offence which would be likely to cause immediate and serious injury; to others. “In those circumstances, the police officer was justified in using such force as might be reasonably necessary in order to prevent Daniel Hou-! papa from shooting again, and the only practical means of force available was a firearm.” Mr Dean said that, depend-: ing on the availability of the! Coroner and witnesses, an inquest into Houpapa’s death could now be held “in the very near future,” most likely ; in Taumarunui.