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Andrew Popo appears in court - Source: ONE News -
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The man who killed a policeman has a history of violence and had only been out of jail three months when he ran down the officer, it has been reported.
Mongrel Mob member Andrew Popo, 33, struck and killed Sergeant Derek Wootton as he lay spikes in the Porirua suburb of Titahi Bay last July to try and stop a fleeing Popo in a stolen car.
Popo pleaded guilty this month to the manslaughter of the 53-year-old police officer after a murder charge was dropped.
He will be sentenced next month.
Details of his offending can be revealed, with suppression orders ending on Monday after a police decision to drop a kidnapping charge against him.
The alleged 16-year-old victim, who was in the car when Popo hit and killed Mr Wootton, had indicated he would not repeat his story in court, The Dominion Post reported today.
Popo had a history of violence and had been out of prison for only three months when he killed Wootton after serving three months for assault.
In 2001, Popo was charged with manslaughter after the high-profile shooting of 16-year-old Black Power prospect Wallace Whatuira on Waitangi Day.
He walked when a key witness refused to testify, despite having given evidence against the three Mob men during depositions.
Popo was already well known to police having at least 83 previous convictions dating back to 1991, when he first appeared in Napier Youth Court aged about 15.
