A 32-year-old man has appeared in court, charged with the murder of a policewoman in central Nelson early on New Year’s Day.
The accused was granted interim name suppression at the Nelson District Court.
He was earlier driven by police escort to court — passing along the route a flower tribute to deceased officer Lyn Fleming outside Nelson’s police station.
As the man walked into the court, surrounded by police staff, he covered his face with a shirt. A member of the public yelled at him as he entered the building.
The man has been charged with murder; attempted murder; two charges of assault using a vehicle as a weapon; dangerous driving; and driving while disqualified.
Policewoman died surrounded by family
Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming and her colleague Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay were struck by a vehicle while on foot patrol in a car park at around 2.10am on New Year’s Day, grieving police stated.
Police said the vehicle then turned around and rammed a patrol car, concussing another police officer and injuring two members of the public.
Fleming died in hospital surrounded by her family on Wednesday, while Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said that Ramsay was in a stable condition on Thursday.
“For New Zealand, Lyn is tragically the first policewoman to be killed in the line of duty and the first police officer in Nelson.
“I know we are all struggling to understand why this has happened.
“I thank the investigation team who have worked around the clock to get us to this point.
“They continue to speak with a number of witnesses today and have enquiries well underway.”
Chambers said Fleming was a daughter, a mother, a wife and a “well-known and highly respected” member of the Nelson community.
She had been with the police since 1992 and was the area response manager in Nelson.
“She was a beautiful soul, she was an outstanding police officer, and even I had the privilege of working alongside Lyn between 2012 and 2014.”
“Lyn’s qualities as a police officer are something that all New Zealanders can be proud of.”
He said that the police’s priority was to support Fleming’s family, Ramsay and his family, and police staff across the country.
“The strength of the police family is something that we are all very proud of, and it’s times like this that we do come together with strength to support each other through this.”
In addition to being a police officer, Fleming coached the Senior A netball team at Nelson College for Girls for more than a decade.
The college’s director of sport Jon Routhan said Fleming was “the calmest, kindest soul”.
“She would do anything for anybody if she thought they genuinely needed it. She was immense, and I don’t know how she managed to do it on top of her own job, she never brought work into Nelson Girls.”
Routhan said she was an “amazing coach” who seldom raised her voice.
“It’s just hard to fathom that she won’t be coming in here anymore.”
— additional reporting by 1News Nelson reporter Jessica Roden.