Sgt. Derek Michael Wootton

Sergeant Wootton, 52, was working night shift when a report was received of an alleged serious assault and carjacking. Police patrols saw the vehicle near Porirua and a pursuit ensued to Titahi Bay, north of Porirua. In an effort to stop the vehicle, Sergeant Wootton laid road spikes in a suburban street in the early hours of 11 July. Tragically he was struck as the vehicle went over the spikes. Despite the best efforts of colleagues and ambulance officers, he died at the scene. A 32-year-old man appeared in the Porirua District Court on 11 July charged with dangerous driving, dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop after a motor accident. He was also charged with aggravated robbery, the theft of a Honda Prelude and kidnapping a 16-year-old youth. Source: https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/history-and-museum/memorial/off...

The grieving mother of police officer Derek Wootton believes her son's killer got away with murder. Mongrel Mob member Andrew Popo, 33, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the High Court at Wellington yesterday, following a defence offer to resolve the case. Popo was driving a Honda Prelude that hit the 52-year-old Porirua police sergeant early on July 11, killing him instantly. Mr Wootton's mother, Cath, was not in court to hear the guilty plea, but reacted angrily to the deal reached by prosecutors and Popo's lawyers. "What happened to Derek was murder. I don't care what anybody says, it was murder," she said. However, the lead investigator in the case said the result was "the appropriate outcome". Mr Wootton was struck by the car while laying road spikes in Dimock St, Titahi Bay. The Crown alleged that the car, taken by Popo from another man the night before, had been travelling at up to 150kmh during the police chase that led to the tragedy. Popo also pleaded guilty to injuring a man and unlawfully taking his car in Tawa, and driving while disqualified. He still faces a charge of kidnapping a teenager. Crown prosecutor Grant Burston said Popo's lawyer, Christopher Stevenson, had proposed a resolution of all but the kidnapping charge and that had been accepted. Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2321976/Manslaughter-for-cop...