( Somali ) Hijack accused: 'I should have killed pilot'

Asha Ali Abdille was remanded in custody to a pre-trial conference in the High Court at Christchurch on February 13, when the trial date may be set.

The 34-year-old Somali woman, faces a charge of hijacking, taking an offensive weapon onto an aircraft, and four charges of wounding or injuring with reckless disregard for safety.

When the armed offenders squad members escorted Abdille away from the plane they handcuffed her and made her kneel down. They found a knife in her shoe ...

Detective Donald Rayne, said he first noticed a trail of blood from the steps of the plane across the tarmac.

He found a black handled knife with what appeared to be blood on it and then another steak knife on the floor in front of seat 1A.

There were several areas and seats in the plane with bloodstains on them, including the cockpit area, and on documents used by the pilots

> When the armed offenders squad members escorted Abdille away from the plane they handcuffed her and made her kneel down. They found a knife in her shoe and Mr Barton did a pat-down search of her.

For those of you not from New Zealand, perhaps I should explain a couple things. First, the "Armed Offenders Squad". Our cops here typically patrol UNARMED. That is to say, they do not carry pistols as a matter of routine. They do have Glock 17s and Bushmaster M4A3s available for use, typically in the boot of their cruiser.

So the "Armed Offenders Squad" is similar to your SWAT teams, and they get called out whenever a police officer encounters an armed situation that can't be handled with harsh language and a truncheon.

> On cross-examination by defence counsel Antony Shaw, Mr Barton admitted it was unusual for a policeman to pat-down a woman, but he felt the situation was unique.

Here in NZ, female officers typically search female prisoners.

Now, on the Somalis here in NZ: I haven't encountered many. I do not know to what extent Islam plays in what appears to be a very violent culture: seems to be the only time I ever hear of Somalis in New Zealand, it is within the context of violent crime.

I documented one encounter I had here

Gidday mate!

All interesting and excellent questions. You ask:

> NZ must be a sufficiently law abiding society if police find it sufficient to have the firearm in the patrol car.

You might be surprised. NZ is quite a violent society with a significant problem with P-Methamphetamine. Per capita, the highest production and usage in the world.

Our Police have, for many years, actively resisted attempts to have them patrol armed. The reason given is that it “ups the ante” in any confrontation with a criminal. Crims will feel that they must be armed in order to win any confrontation with the Police — sorta like an Arms Race.

BTW, Guardian Angels worldwide patrol unarmed, too. Once you get used to the concept, it’s no big deal.

> Does the NZ public have access to firearms?

Yes, for hunting and hobby purposes. Self-defense is not a legitimate use for firearms (or any arms) in New Zealand.

> Do criminals “patrol” armed?

Very often, Crims are armed to the teeth! Pistols and handguns are uncommon, sawn-off shotties and sawn-off rifles are more common. Lots of knives. Claw hammers: very common. Wallboard saws — you know the short, sharp handsaws that are disposable? — nasty and common. Pit Bull Terriers: very common weapon. Blunt instruments, tomohawks, air rifles, air pistols, toy guns — all common.

> Do criminals ever steal the police patrol car?

Sometimes they do. There is a famous case that happened almost exactly 2 years ago, over the New Years break. A particularly bad man, Graeme Burton, released on parole down in Wellington. Got up to mischief and, during the manhunt killed a man. He ended up breaking into the back of a cop car and arming himself with the Bushmaster that was there. The cops shot him with their Glock 17’s, and he ended up losing a leg.

I think the day will one day come when our cops patrol armed as a matter of routine. It happened in Australia a few years ago, so it is probably inevitable. I think it will be a shame when it happens: just one more step away from the civilized society we once were, one more step toward the Wild West that the Crims want it to become.

Cheers!
*DieHard*

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