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Police shooting trial moves to Wellington
The trial of two brothers charged over the shooting of two police officers and the killing of a police dog during a Phillipstown drugs search has been shifted to the Wellington High Court because of earthquake disruption.
The trial is now scheduled to start in the week of October 31, according to the High Court in Christchurch which has been handling pre-trial arrangements for several cases this week.
The case was originally meant to go to trial in Christchurch on May 30 but the February 22 earthquake prevented it going ahead.
The trial was then planned to proceed in the Dunedin High Court on July 11, but it was put off within a few days of starting after one of the accused sought new defence counsel.
Christopher Graeme Smith, 35, admitted 10 charges in the?High Court in Christchurch in December, but was remanded in custody to stand trial on two counts of attempted murder of two officers.
He pleaded guilty to two charges of wounding police officers with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, two charges of using a firearm against police, killing police dog Gage, and three charges of possessing a firearm.
Smith also admitted cultivating cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon.
The two officers were carrying out a cannabis search at a property in Buccleugh Street when they were allegedly shot.
Smith's brother, Steven Paul Smith, 32, faces firearms charges, and possessing and cultivating cannabis. He will appear with his brother in a joint trial.
