January 1, 2025 • 8 mins
Senior Sergeant Lynn Fleming and her colleague Adam Ramsey were on foot patrol in the city centre when a car drove into them.
Fleming died from the attack and Ramsey was critically injured but is now in a stable condition.
Nelson based reporter Katrina Bennett has the details and spoke to Tim Beveridge.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from Newstalk ZB Follow this
and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Let's find out more from our Nelson based reporter, Katrina Bennette.
Gee there, Katrina, Hello, how are you? Yeah? Look, I'm
really really well and it's a horrible thing to have
to talk about, but we do need to talk about this. So,
just for those who haven't kept up with the news,
what can you tell us about what happened early on
New Year's Day in Nelson.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Well, it sounds like we had two police officers, Senior
Sergeant Lynn Fleming and her colleague Adam Ramsey, and they
were on foot patrol in the city center. They've gone
into the Buxton Square car park and a car has
driven at them. It's been described as being used as
a weapon and has has collided with them, and then
(00:58):
it's come around and rammed a police car again. Both
of those officers were taken to Nelson Hospital critically injured,
and we found out that Lynn Fleming died yesterday on
Year's Day. Adam Ramsey was going in for surgery and
we understand he's stable, although we haven't had another update
as to his condition yet. Today, but it sounded like
(01:20):
he was expected to recover from his injuries. We haven't
heard any further from police today. A thirty two year
old man was tasted at the scene and is due
to appear in court tomorrow the court. I've been down
at the courthouse this morning, but it's closed today is
of course still a public holiday, so we don't know
what charges. There's no charge sheet yet that we've been
able to view as to what charges he will be
(01:41):
facing in relation to this. Police have said it will
be serious charges, as you would expect. But as for
any of whether there even can be a motive for
something as senseless and horrific as this. But in terms
of any reason, any motive, you know, whether there are
any drugs, alcohol involved. We don't know anything about the
events leading up to this or what on earth was
(02:03):
going through this driver's mind at the time.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
For those of us that aren't familiar with Nelson Buxton Square,
and why were there people gathering there anyway?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, see, I'm based in Wellington. Now, some of our
listeners up there probably hear me do the headlines on
news talk seed BBS, so it's probably strange hearing me
down in Nelson. But this is where I was born, raised,
lived all my life in Nelson, went to Nelson College
for Girls, where Lynn Fleming was a netball coach. I
didn't know her personally or have any involvement with her,
but every single person I've spoken to I'm down here
(02:34):
on my summer holiday and this is just unthinkable. I mean,
this happening anywhere would be unthinkable, but in Nelson. It's
the first police officer ever killed in the line of
judy in Nelson, first female police officer in New Zealand
to die on the job. There's an absolute sense of
shock here. But growing up here, I can say that
Buxton Square car park was never safe after dark, Like
(02:56):
you knew that that was an area in Nelson that
attracted antisocial behavior, the public toilets in particular. You just
knew not to go there. Like if you were out
in the city enjoying the night life, you never went
to the public toilets in Buckston's which we would call
it at nighttime. It was unsafe. It always attracted boy
(03:17):
races that to put these huge speed bump things in
there to stop them racing around the car park and
burning it up. So it is a problem spot, and
that's why it's not surprising that you would have police
doing regular foot patrols through that area on New Year's Eve,
because it does attract antisocial behavior. I was walking through
there this morning and there's still discarded cans of RTDs,
(03:41):
different alcohol mixes, you know, in the flower beds. There's
a full liquor band in the area. You can't even
carry it through, but it does attract that behavior. There's
a real shock here, you know, and a real sadness.
It feels like everybody is sort of bearing responsibility for this,
that this shouldn't have happened, and it should be a
(04:05):
place where people can go out, and especially the police
should be respected and able to go out and do
their job and uphold the lord. I went to the
police station first thing this morning, was quite early, to
get photos of the flowers and the candles and messages
that have been left directly outside the police station. And
I was kind of focused on doing that, and next thing,
someone was giving me a hug and I stood up,
(04:27):
you know, and it was the district's commander, Tracy Thompson,
and it kind of took me aback, and I thought, oh,
I'd better declar I'm a journalist in case she thinks
I'm somebody grieving and coming and said, you know, I'm
taking photos for the news, And she just gave me
another hug. And that's such heart and such warmth from
somebody who has been directly affected by this. This is
(04:50):
one of his staff, a colleague, probably a friend, and
her reaction to a journalist coming to take photos was
to just hug me.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah. And in a small community, as you've mentioned, one
that you were closely connected with as well through your life,
this person possibly would have been known. Is there any
talk in the town about this thirty two year old?
Was he known to the police or locals for any
other criminal behavior.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
There's a lot of speculation. There's a lot of speculation
and a lot of a lot of talk as happens
after this, and people desperate to know why, you know,
try and make sense of the senseless. Really, But no, no,
I don't know who he was or you know what
the background was, whether he was known to police, whether
(05:34):
he had had any run in charges in the past.
Don't know anything. As I said, he's due to appearance
court tomorrow, so that's when we'll find out more. But
you know, it's at the end of the day, there's
nothing that justifies this, right, There's absolutely nothing, and it
might not be surprising if there is any sort of
criminal history. But at the same time, it's just such
(05:55):
an absolute waste and such a loss of life. And
you know, you talk to people, it wasn't just Lynn
Fleming's work with police. It seems like she was just
part of this community and people are just reeling. Oh,
she sounds like one of the best. So I didn't
know her, but she sounds like one of those people
that you know, really devotes themselves to where they live.
(06:18):
And Nelson's absolutely lost someone special.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah. Absolutely. Katrina Bennett, our reporter from Wellington and Nelson
just finally just to reiterate about those who have had
lots and lots of people asking on the text machine
around how is the health of those that were also
affected in this incident. Just recap for us what you
know about members of the public and other police that
were hurt at the scene.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yes, there was another police officer who suffered a concussion,
but they're not in hospital. They I don't believe they
were taken to hospital. And there was another police officer
that suffered minor injuries, so they'll be recovering. In terms
of members of the public, we haven't had any official
update on their condition and so still waiting to hear.
(07:03):
But I believe, like I say, there's so much speculation
and people know people and you know, friend of a
friend and all the rest of it. But it sounds
like the civilian sort of. There was one main civilian
who was injured. It sounds like they have been released
from hospital. So that's a good sign.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Excellent. So the thirty two year old driver of the
vehicle appears in court tomorrow, right, yes.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
That fright, yep, then we'll be I'll be heading along
for that as well, so we'll be able to get
the information out as soon as we can, depending you know,
suppressions in place and things like that, but as soon
as we can let people know more about who he
is and the events that led up to the horrific act,
then we will.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yes, Katrina, thank you so much for making yourself available
this morning. Katrina ben attur Wellington based reporter in Nelson
kind of on holiday but not, Katrina, thank.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
You, Thanks Sans for a month.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
You're more than welcome. Good to have you along. Look,
if you live in that region and you're listening to
that going, look, I'm just the same. I've been there,
I've put the flowers out, you might have hit a
candle or anything like that. Keep those stories going because
this is fresh in the minds for so many people.
This is a story that will build momentum as we
learn more about this thirty two year old. The courts,
of course, close today, open tomorrow for.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
More from News Talks at b Listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from Newstalk ZB Follow this
and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Let's find out more from our Nelson based reporter, Katrina Bennette.
Gee there, Katrina, Hello, how are you? Yeah? Look, I'm
really really well and it's a horrible thing to have
to talk about, but we do need to talk about this. So,
just for those who haven't kept up with the news,
what can you tell us about what happened early on
New Year's Day in Nelson.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Well, it sounds like we had two police officers, Senior
Sergeant Lynn Fleming and her colleague Adam Ramsey, and they
were on foot patrol in the city center. They've gone
into the Buxton Square car park and a car has
driven at them. It's been described as being used as
a weapon and has has collided with them, and then
(00:58):
it's come around and rammed a police car again. Both
of those officers were taken to Nelson Hospital critically injured,
and we found out that Lynn Fleming died yesterday on
Year's Day. Adam Ramsey was going in for surgery and
we understand he's stable, although we haven't had another update
as to his condition yet. Today, but it sounded like
(01:20):
he was expected to recover from his injuries. We haven't
heard any further from police today. A thirty two year
old man was tasted at the scene and is due
to appear in court tomorrow the court. I've been down
at the courthouse this morning, but it's closed today is
of course still a public holiday, so we don't know
what charges. There's no charge sheet yet that we've been
able to view as to what charges he will be
(01:41):
facing in relation to this. Police have said it will
be serious charges, as you would expect. But as for
any of whether there even can be a motive for
something as senseless and horrific as this. But in terms
of any reason, any motive, you know, whether there are
any drugs, alcohol involved. We don't know anything about the
events leading up to this or what on earth was
(02:03):
going through this driver's mind at the time.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
For those of us that aren't familiar with Nelson Buxton Square,
and why were there people gathering there anyway?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, see, I'm based in Wellington. Now, some of our
listeners up there probably hear me do the headlines on
news talk seed BBS, so it's probably strange hearing me
down in Nelson. But this is where I was born, raised,
lived all my life in Nelson, went to Nelson College
for Girls, where Lynn Fleming was a netball coach. I
didn't know her personally or have any involvement with her,
but every single person I've spoken to I'm down here
(02:34):
on my summer holiday and this is just unthinkable. I mean,
this happening anywhere would be unthinkable, but in Nelson. It's
the first police officer ever killed in the line of
judy in Nelson, first female police officer in New Zealand
to die on the job. There's an absolute sense of
shock here. But growing up here, I can say that
Buxton Square car park was never safe after dark, Like
(02:56):
you knew that that was an area in Nelson that
attracted antisocial behavior, the public toilets in particular. You just
knew not to go there. Like if you were out
in the city enjoying the night life, you never went
to the public toilets in Buckston's which we would call
it at nighttime. It was unsafe. It always attracted boy
(03:17):
races that to put these huge speed bump things in
there to stop them racing around the car park and
burning it up. So it is a problem spot, and
that's why it's not surprising that you would have police
doing regular foot patrols through that area on New Year's Eve,
because it does attract antisocial behavior. I was walking through
there this morning and there's still discarded cans of RTDs,
(03:41):
different alcohol mixes, you know, in the flower beds. There's
a full liquor band in the area. You can't even
carry it through, but it does attract that behavior. There's
a real shock here, you know, and a real sadness.
It feels like everybody is sort of bearing responsibility for this,
that this shouldn't have happened, and it should be a
(04:05):
place where people can go out, and especially the police
should be respected and able to go out and do
their job and uphold the lord. I went to the
police station first thing this morning, was quite early, to
get photos of the flowers and the candles and messages
that have been left directly outside the police station. And
I was kind of focused on doing that, and next thing,
someone was giving me a hug and I stood up,
(04:27):
you know, and it was the district's commander, Tracy Thompson,
and it kind of took me aback, and I thought, oh,
I'd better declar I'm a journalist in case she thinks
I'm somebody grieving and coming and said, you know, I'm
taking photos for the news, And she just gave me
another hug. And that's such heart and such warmth from
somebody who has been directly affected by this. This is
(04:50):
one of his staff, a colleague, probably a friend, and
her reaction to a journalist coming to take photos was
to just hug me.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah. And in a small community, as you've mentioned, one
that you were closely connected with as well through your life,
this person possibly would have been known. Is there any
talk in the town about this thirty two year old?
Was he known to the police or locals for any
other criminal behavior.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
There's a lot of speculation. There's a lot of speculation
and a lot of a lot of talk as happens
after this, and people desperate to know why, you know,
try and make sense of the senseless. Really, But no, no,
I don't know who he was or you know what
the background was, whether he was known to police, whether
(05:34):
he had had any run in charges in the past.
Don't know anything. As I said, he's due to appearance
court tomorrow, so that's when we'll find out more. But
you know, it's at the end of the day, there's
nothing that justifies this, right, There's absolutely nothing, and it
might not be surprising if there is any sort of
criminal history. But at the same time, it's just such
(05:55):
an absolute waste and such a loss of life. And
you know, you talk to people, it wasn't just Lynn
Fleming's work with police. It seems like she was just
part of this community and people are just reeling. Oh,
she sounds like one of the best. So I didn't
know her, but she sounds like one of those people
that you know, really devotes themselves to where they live.
(06:18):
And Nelson's absolutely lost someone special.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah. Absolutely. Katrina Bennett, our reporter from Wellington and Nelson
just finally just to reiterate about those who have had
lots and lots of people asking on the text machine
around how is the health of those that were also
affected in this incident. Just recap for us what you
know about members of the public and other police that
were hurt at the scene.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yes, there was another police officer who suffered a concussion,
but they're not in hospital. They I don't believe they
were taken to hospital. And there was another police officer
that suffered minor injuries, so they'll be recovering. In terms
of members of the public, we haven't had any official
update on their condition and so still waiting to hear.
(07:03):
But I believe, like I say, there's so much speculation
and people know people and you know, friend of a
friend and all the rest of it. But it sounds
like the civilian sort of. There was one main civilian
who was injured. It sounds like they have been released
from hospital. So that's a good sign.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Excellent. So the thirty two year old driver of the
vehicle appears in court tomorrow, right, yes.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
That fright, yep, then we'll be I'll be heading along
for that as well, so we'll be able to get
the information out as soon as we can, depending you know,
suppressions in place and things like that, but as soon
as we can let people know more about who he
is and the events that led up to the horrific act,
then we will.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yes, Katrina, thank you so much for making yourself available
this morning. Katrina ben attur Wellington based reporter in Nelson
kind of on holiday but not, Katrina, thank.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
You, Thanks Sans for a month.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
You're more than welcome. Good to have you along. Look,
if you live in that region and you're listening to
that going, look, I'm just the same. I've been there,
I've put the flowers out, you might have hit a
candle or anything like that. Keep those stories going because
this is fresh in the minds for so many people.
This is a story that will build momentum as we
learn more about this thirty two year old. The courts,
of course, close today, open tomorrow for.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
More from News Talks at b Listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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