Police hope today's guilty pleas by Graeme William Burton, 36, will provide some sense of relief for victims, their families and friends affected by the aftermath of last month's shooting spree in the eastern Hutt Valley hills.
"The guilty pleas are hopefully one step in the healing path for the Karl Kuchenbecker's family, and the other victims and families," said Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Cotter, officer in charge of the manhunt for Burton.
"Police investigators are impressed with the strength and character shown by the victims who survived this horrific ordeal on the firebreaks.
"The degree of violence shown towards each of them is chilling, even for seasoned police investigators," he said.
"All the mountain bikers who encountered Burton showed a remarkable degree of calmness given the volatile situation they faced."
Detective Senior Sergeant Cotter also praised the bravery of the two police officers who confronted Burton, one of them shooting him in the leg preventing any further escalation of violence.
"They put their lives on the line because of their wider concerns for public safety."
Detective Senior Sergeant Cotter also praised officer in charge of the homicide investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Levy and his investigation team for the excellence of their work and professionalism throughout the inquiry.
"Ross and his team have put in extremely long hours and their meticulous attention to detail has been rewarded with the pleas today."
"The Lower Hutt community played their part providing information which has helped officers piece together what took place."
Police at today's appearance in the Wellington District Court charged Burton with a total of 11 offences relating to the events in the eastern Hutt hills on Saturday, 6 January.
Burton pleaded guilty to:
• the murder of Karl Kuchenbecker • the attempted murder of a male mountain biker whose name and details are suppressed • the attempted murder of a second male mountain biker who name and details are suppressed • the aggravated robbery, kidnapping and aggravated injury against mountain biker Nicholas Rea • the aggravated robbery, kidnapping and injuring with reckless disregard against mountain biker Kate Rea • two charges of using a firearm against a law enforcement officer - the names and details of the two police officers are suppressed.
Charges relating to home invasions in central Wellington on 3 January and in Moera on 5 January have been remanded without plea.
Detective Senior Sergeant Cotter said he was constrained from commenting further as the judicial process, including sentencing, still has to be completed.
There are also on-going police investigations, including the legislated review by the Police Complaints Authority relating to police actions in shooting Burton.