9 Dec 2014

Cohort of man shot by police sentenced

4:56 pm on 9 December 2014

A Waitara man has been sentenced to four years and eight months' jail for his part in a crime spree that culminated in the police shooting dead his accomplice.

Kevin Ronald Bishell appeared for sentencing on one charge of aggravated robbery and two charges of burglary in the High Court in New Plymouth today.

The 34-year-old admitted robbing staff at the Treehouse bar at gunpoint early on Christmas morning in 2012 and burgling the New Plymouth Golf Club and Chipmunks playcentre in June last year.

Bishell and his accomplice Adam Te Rata Charles Morehu set off a silent alarm at the golf club and were disturbed by the police.

Morehu was fatally shot after he fired a cut down .22 rifle at an officer during the pair's escape bid.