The estranged wife of Joel Robin Buckley, who was killed in a police shootout in Hamilton in July 2021, claimed he had been planning a mass shooting to surpass the Christchurch mosque attack.
However, she faced sharp criticism from Coroner Bruce Hesketh’s counsel, Chris Gudsell, for not alerting authorities sooner and allegedly manipulating the investigation.
An Independent Police Conduct Authority report deemed the fatal shooting justified but highlighted “failures in firearm licensing”.
The inquest resumed this week and revealed that the woman had withheld critical information, deleted messages, and warned Buckley about police movements before the confrontation.
While she defended her actions, claiming she lacked sufficient evidence to be believed, Gudsell suggested she had been “controlling the narrative”.
The case has raised questions about missed warning signs and the complexities of preempting violent threats.
The hearing continues.
