Air Force flight lieutenant denies stealing pistol parts from Base Woodbourne
Two Air Force personnel*say they went to the New Zealand Police about their boss stealing pistol parts because they did not trust the military to take proper action.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force armament technicians gave evidence during*flight sergeant*Murray John Smith's trial on Wednesday at the Blenheim District Court.
Smith was in*charge of the armoury at Base Woodbourne in Marlborough when he took pistol barrels and slides*from the armoury on February 10, they*said.
A police summary of facts said armament technician Oliver Powell saw Smith*grinding the serial numbers off pistol barrels and slides.
"He*noticed me see him, and said 'see nothing, say nothing'," Powell*said.
Powell told three of his coworkers, who covertly took photographs of Smith's actions on a cellphone.
Smith put the parts in a plastic bag and later carried them out of Base Woodbourne to his home on a bicycle, Powell said.
"We had gone to our other sergeant*about multiple other instances of theft and nothing had been done, so we had very little confidence in the command chain to do anything," Powell said.
"We decided it was best for Jacob to report it as he was most senior and having more courage to do it."
Smith was charged with stealing pistol parts and illegally possessing a pistol, which he denied.
Ten witnesses would be called during the judge-alone trial, including Smith.
The trial would*finish on Thursday.
*-*The Marlborough Express
