The Wallace family then took a private murder prosecution against him but a jury acquitted Abbott in 2002, saying that he shot Wallace in self defence. Mr Wallace, 23, had smashed windows and a police car with a baseball bat and a golf club and threatened to hit Mr Abbott before he was shot. After the shooting, police did not charge Mr Abbott and the decision was backed by the deputy Solicitor General. Steven Wallace was shot by Senior Constable Keith Abbott in the main street of Waitara in 2000 and died from the wounds. The family of a man fatally shot by police 16-years-ago are appealing to the public for help raising money to take the Crown to court over his death.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 30, 2016 07:52 UTC