Auckland, March 1 NZPA - An armed offenders squad policeman today gave evidence behind closed doors at the resumed inquest into the police shooting of Auckland courier Halatau Naitoko.

Mr Naitoko, 17, died in January last year when he was hit by a police bullet as officers chased Stephen Hohepa McDonald, who was trying to hijack a truck on Auckland's Northwestern Motorway.

The inquest was adjourned in November when lawyers for two armed offender squad policemen applied to excuse them from giving evidence from the dock.

The issue was to be the subject of a High Court hearing but that was abandoned after lawyers for all parties in the inquest reached a settlement.

As a result, it was agreed the officers would give evidence with only court staff, lawyers, two policemen and three representatives of Mr Naitoko's family present.

Media are barred but will be given written transcripts of the hearing, with anything which might identify the officers removed.

McDonald, who had been on a crime rampage at the time of the shooting, was last year jailed for 13 years on 23 charges.

The inquest before coroner Gordon Matenga at Auckland Coroner's Court is expected to finish this week.

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