Daniel Luff

Case record: Daniel Luff

Background

Daniel Luff was 17 years old and had dated Stephanie Cocker for several months. He did not take the end of the relationship well when Stephanie tried to finish it.

Robert and Christine Cocker lived at a Rongotea farmhouse. Stephanie was at home with Daniel Luff when he arrived with a firearm.

A protection order had been taken out against Daniel Luff only two weeks before the killings, after he had arrived at the farm with a firearm and had threatened to kill himself.

The offence

Daniel Luff took the family of his ex-girlfriend hostage with a gun, then shot Detective Constable Duncan Taylor dead and attempted to shoot Detective Jeanette Park.

Later the same day while enforcing the protection order at the Rongotea farmhouse, Detective Constable Duncan Taylor was shot in the head and chest and died instantly.

Detective Constable Duncan Taylor and Detective Jeanette Park were following a young local resident named Daniel Luff to the Taipo Rd farmhouse.

Daniel Luff lept out of his vehicle with a stolen, high-powered rifle. Detective Taylor tried to stop the young man.

Stephanie saw her ex-boyfriend arrive, hid, then escaped out the window and took refuge at a neighbour’s house. Robert and Christine Cocker barricaded themselves into part of the house so that the young gunman could not reach them.

Daniel Luff shot Detective Taylor in the head and the chest at point blank range. As he lifted the firearm to shoot at Detective Park, he smirked and fired 3 times.

While trying to flee the scene, Detective Park received a shot to the thigh and felt one shot narrowly miss her head. She dragged herself 700m to call for help.

Daniel Luff broke into the house and refused to come out, including refusing to let anyone check the condition of Duncan Taylor.

Investigation

The murder of Detective Constable Duncan Taylor 5 July 2002 began like most other day for Detective Constable Duncan Taylor. He said a quick good-bye to his wife and their 11-month-old son, Campbell, then dashed out the door and was gone.

Detective Sam Hansen was one of the first officers on the scene. As he and the dog handler pulled up alongside the ambulance, he had no idea that the officer being treated was his wife, Jeanette Park. Hansen and the dog handler carried on towards the Taipo Rd farmhouse where Duncan’s body still lay.

A few moments later Hansen was called back to accompany Jeanette to the hospital.

The siege carried on for the next 4 hours. During that time, Daniel Luff refused to come out or to let anyone check the condition of Duncan Taylor.

There were more shots fired during the siege. Eventually Daniel Luff was gassed out of the house and police arrested him with the help of a police dog.

After the siege was over, Daniel Luff’s body lay dead at the scene for almost 24 hours before his body was returned to his wife and son.

It appeared that Daniel Luff had previous history of burglary and weapons offences. He was on bail for firearms offences on the day of the killings.

Arrest

Daniel Luff was arrested with the help of a police dog. He walked with a limp from a bite he received from the police dog during his arrest.

Trial

Daniel Luff appeared in court on 6 July 2002. He walked with a limp from the bite he received from a police dog during his arrest. He was remanded in custody until July 15.

On 15 July 2002 during his brief appearance, Luff entered no plea and was again remanded in custody.

Sentencing

On 18 September 2002, Daniel Luff was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum parole period of 17 years for the murder of Duncan Taylor.

He was sentenced to 10 years for the attempted murder of Jeanette Park.

He was sentenced to 5 years for firing at Detective Constable Tony Heathcote.

He was sentenced to 7 years for kidnapping Robert and Christine Cocker.

He was sentenced to 5 years for aggravated burglary and 2 years for burglary.

All of which were to be served concurrently.

Aftermath

Detective Constable Jeanette Park returned to light duties soon after.

Detective Constable Duncan Taylor’s family included his wife and their 11-month-old son, Campbell.