The patron of Constable Matthew Hunt’s Police College class has voiced his despair and disbelief at the young man’s death.
“A young man’s life, taken for what?” Sir Mark Solomon said.
He said he felt “physically sick” when learning Hunt had been slaughtered. Solomon said the young Waitematā official was from a passionate gathering of 59 people sworn in at the Porirua school in 2018.
“My heart goes out to his family.”
Solomon, former Ngāi Tahu kaiwhakahaere (chairman), said he was alerted on Friday to the death of the Wing 312 graduate.
“It was a huge shock. You don’t expect to hear that in this country.”
Hunt, 28, was shot and killed on Friday during a routine traffic stop in the West Auckland suburb of Massey, in an incident which left another official and an individual from the open injured.
Solomon, an individual from a Police Commissioner’s advisory committee, the Māori Focus Forum, said it didn’t seem that some time in the past the recruits of Wing 312 were looking to the future, preparing for their new careers.
It was “terrible” Hunt had been murdered and it was hard to find other words to describe such a senseless, tragic act, he said.
Wing 312 comprised 19 ladies and 40 men.
The youngest recruit was 18 and the oldest aged 54.
Police at the time said the recruits of Wing 312 included Chelsea Warman, an Olympic weightlifter.
Other newcomers included Timothy Emery, who had a private pilot license, and Edison Dumo who had a MBA and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.
Eight of the recuits were sent to Waitematā district, where Hunt was based.
Solomon, of Ngai Tahu and Ngati Kuri, said he wanted to travel to Auckland soon.
The details of memorial services for Hunt were still being turned out to be on Sunday.
Altered by NZ Fiji Times
Image source -rnz
