‘Rifle no threat’

Press, 31 March 1977, Page 4

‘Rifle no threat’

PA Wellington 11 A man who pointed a j loaded 22 air rifle at the-. Queen when she arrived ati' the State opening of Parlia-i ment was committed to' treatment in a psychiatric i hospital when he appeared; in the Magistrate's Court at' Wellington. Appearing before Mr A. B. Beatson. S.M., the man,; v hose name was suppressed. | pleaded guilty to a charge of: possessing the firearm and a; charge of possessing an offensive weapon — a knife, j The Magistrate commented that if the man had any intention at all it was not to harm the Queen Sergeant M. S. Campbell I said that at 2.30 p.m. on February 28 the man was seen m the crowd with a rifle raised to his shoulder; and pointed towards the, steps of Parliament build-' ings. where the Queen had Just arrived. The rifle was found to have a slug in the barrel and a search of the accused revealed a knife. In explanation, the man: said he was carrying the rifle to show support for the' Queen, and to repel any threat against her. Later he said he carried, the rifle to protect himself. as he Sad been threatened bv someone in the crowd,: and later still he said he; carried it because he was going to commit suicide. , Counsel (Mr G. Bull) sub-; m tted that it was quite I apparent that the accused! had been suffering from'

mental illness for a long [ time. In fact, he had been' mentally sick for seven [years. Most of that time he I

'had been relatively stable, [but in the last few months [he had not been under direct [medical supervision.