18 Oct 2012

Family to sue police over motorway shooting

12:16 pm on 18 October 2012

The family of an Auckland teenager mistakenly killed by Armed Offenders Squad officers has been granted legal aid to sue the police.

Halatau Naitoko, 17, was shot dead as police pursued a gunman on Auckland's north-western motorway in November 2009.

His family plans to sue police under the section of the Bill of Rights Act dealing with the right to life.

A spokesperson for their lawyer says the family has been granted legal aid to go ahead with the case and will start looking at formal proceedings next week.

Bystander Richard Neville, who was wounded during the operation, plans to sue the police for gross negligence and mental trauma.

He is unable to work and has to wear hearing aids.