Newlands Shooting Justified

By Frank Neill

Two Police officers were justified in their decision to shoot Samuel Fakalago to save a woman’s life, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has found.

Mr Fakalago was shot in Newlands on 7 June 2022, says the IPCA decision, released on 2

November.

Police went to the address after receiving calls that a man had beaten a pregnant woman on her driveway, threatened to stab her, and dragged her inside the house.

When Police arrived, Mr Fakalago threatened to shoot the officers and barricaded the front door.

Police surrounded the house while waiting for the Armed Offenders Squad to arrive.

However before they arrived Mr Fakalago came to the back door with the woman, holding a knife to her throat.

Mr Fakalago did not drop the knife when challenged, and the two officers each fired four shots.

Officers provided first aid to Mr Fakalago. However, he died at the scene.

“We are satisfied that the officers needed to act immediately to prevent Mr Fakalago from

seriously injuring or killing the woman, and that the opportunity to pause or deploy less lethal

options was not available to them,” the IPCA Chair Judge Kenneth Johnston KC said.

The Police have welcomed the IPCA decision.

After Mr Fakalago held a knife to the woman’s throat “Police made repeated appeals for him to release the knife and the woman.

“However he failed to do so,” the Police said in a media release.

Officers considered the options available to them, and Mr Fakalago was subsequently shot by Police.

Wellington District Commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell says Police are forced to make quick decisions to keep people safe, and the decision to use lethal force is not something officers ever want to do.

It is always a last resort.

“I am confident the officers involved took the only option available to them in the circumstances to ensure the woman’s safety and prevent further harm,” Superintendent Parnell says.