Man shot by police enters notguilty pleas

A MAN shot by police after he allegedly rammed a police car then threatened officers and the public with weapons is denying the charges.

The 45yearold man, who was granted interim name suppression, appeared before Judge John BrandtsGiesen in Invercargill District Court via audiovisual link yesterday.

His defence lawyer, Sonia

Vidal, has entered not guilty pleas to 17 charges in relation to the incident on March 19, which included possessing an offensive weapon, wilful damage, aggravated assault, burglary, contravening of a protection order and assaulting in a family relationship.

Ms Vidal also asked the judge to vacate a guilty plea entered previously by another lawyer in relation to another charge of assault in a family relationship which referred to another day.

A hearing about the matter will be held on July 11 and Judge BrandtsGiesen remanded the man in custody until this date, when a case review hearing for the other charges will also take place.

The incident in March closed part of State Highway 1 at Dacre for almost a day.

At the time, a police spokeswoman said police had been attempting to find the man at his rural address in relation to an alleged family harm incident, when he fled, then allegedly confronted motorists and police with weapons on SH1, whereupon one of the officers shot him.

The man was transferred to hospital in a serious but stable condition and later charged by police.

A woman involved in the incident was located safe and well at another location.