NSW: Attack victim says police overreacted by shooting woman
22 Dec 2008 7:33 PM
SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP - A man who was allegedly attacked by a woman who police say was wielding a knife claims a NSW police officer overreacted by shooting her.
The 48-year-old woman, who was seriously injured early on Sunday when a female police officer fired a number of shots at her, remains in a serious condition in Westmead Hospital.
Police said she was shot after capsicum spray failed to subdue her and she threatened officers who had been called to Iron Street in North Parramatta about 1.30am (AEDT).
However, professional boxer Sonny Michael Angelo said the woman was holding a fork, not a knife, and he already had her pinned to the ground when police arrived.
The 23-year-old said he called police after the woman, who he doesn't know, struck him from behind in the back of the head while he talking on a public phone.
"It was not necessary. There were 10 police officers outside. Why would the police shoot at the old lady?" Mr Angelo told the Nine Network on Monday.
Mr Angelo said police ordered him to let the woman go when they arrived and then went on to capsicum spray both the woman and himself before shooting the woman twice.
He also contradicted the police version of events that the woman had threatened officers.
"I said (to the police): 'What's wrong with you? Why you do that for? You know there is no problem (with) her anymore. I had her on the ground'," he said.
"The lady was trying to stand up and run away and that's when I hear a shot. They shoot her two times."
The shooting was being investigated by a critical incident team and the policewoman was expected to return to duty soon, police said.
The incident has prompted more calls for frontline officers to be equipped with stun guns.
However, Premier Nathan Rees on Sunday said the government would not be rushed into any such policies.
He said there may be a case for more Tasers in the NSW Police Force, but he and Commissioner Andrew Scipione would not yet lobby to have the stun gun made widely available.
No officers on duty at Parramatta Local Area Command at the time of the shooting were trained to use Taser stun guns, police said.
