2 Dec 2009

Police officer in manslaughter trial

10:55 am on 2 December 2009

A High Court jury in Auckland has heard evidence from two former police officers who picked up an off-duty officer and another man before the latter was hit and killed by a street sweeper truck.

Constable Clinton Hill is currently suspended on full pay. He is charged with the manslaughter of George Harris who was killed in 2004.

Mr Hill is also charged with assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The court has heard from former constables Reuben Harris and Benson Murphy who were on patrol in the Manukau area in South Auckland on 3 October 2004.

Mr Murphy says they saw Mr Hill and Mr Harris scuffling on the side of the road and picked them up.

The court heard Mr Hill assaulted Mr Harris.

Mr Murphy says Mr Harris got out of the vehicle and ran off and he only discovered later that Mr Harris had run into a street sweeper truck.