The woman who drove a getaway car, helping Eli Epiha flee the scene after he shot and killed Constable Matthew Hunt in West Auckland last year, has been sentenced to twelve months imprisonment.
Natalie Jane Bracken, 31, was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at her trial in July.
Cell phone video taken by a member of the public, and played at the trial, showed Bracken getting the keys to a car that was parked on Massey's Reynella Drive, and driving off with Epiha in the passenger seat.
On Friday, during Bracken's sentencing via video link, Constable Matthew Hunt's mother, Diane Hunt, spoke directly to her in a victim impact statement.
"On the 19th June 2020 my wonderful son was murdered because of his New Zealand Police uniform," Diane Hunt said.
"Natalie Bracken, my son would have come to help you and your children if you ever needed it, he would have risked his life."
Reading the statement via video call, Hunt said Bracken wanted to be part of what happened in Reynella Dr that day.
"Seeing my son dead or dying on the ground you tried to get the attention of the murderer so you could help him evade police."
Hunt said Bracken had the opportunity to go to police afterwards, but put everyone through a trial instead.
"Your behaviour during the trial just reinforced how little you actually care," Diane said. "Your selfishness is unbelievable."
In sentencing Bracken, Justice Venning said she had seen Epiha's actions first hand that day.
"You were aware of the seriousness of what he had done," Justice Venning said.
He said because of Bracken's actions, Epiha was able to avoid arrest at the time.
"It was only a matter of chance, and good policing that Mr Epiha was able to be apprehended within a matter of hours."
Before handing down the sentence of twelve months imprisonment, Justice Venning told Bracken she had the opportunity to turn her life around.
"You have potential," he said.
"You need to remove yourself from your association of people who use serious drugs."
Eli Epiha, who pleaded guilty to Constable Matt Hunt's murder, as well as a charge of dangerous driving causing injury to a member of the public, was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Constable David Goldfinch by a majority verdict, at trial.
Epiha will be sentenced later this month.
