NSW: Wife of man shot dead says police should be "ashamed"
04 Jun 2009 1:46 AM
SYDNEY, June 4 AAP - The wife of a man shot dead by a NSW police officer says the shooting was uncalled for and police should be "ashamed of themselves".
The 25-year-old was shot once in the chest by the senior constable about 1.50pm (AEST) on Tuesday in Cinders Lane in the northern NSW city of Armidale.
The man had allegedly made threats with a knife and refused to put down the weapon before being shot.
Police had earlier taken him to Armidale Hospital as a psychiatric patient, News Ltd reported on Thursday.
The woman, who does not wish to be named, said her husband was "mentally unsound" and had developed a fear of police officers.
In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, she said her husband was confused and scared.
"Even if police thought shooting him was necessary, why wouldn't they shoot him in the leg or the arm or the shoulder?" the letter read.
"They had him cornered in an alley. Shooting him was utterly unnecessary and the police should be ashamed of themselves."
