Sect’s guns ‘not for killing other people’

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 1

Sect’s guns ‘not for killing other people’

PA Wellington The guns of the Full Gospel Mission would not be turned against other people when the sect was forced into the hills, the Magistrate's Court at Lower Hutt was told yesterday.

In fact there might not even be time to collect guns when the call came to leave the cities, said a member of the sect. Tracey John Squires, aged 30, an R.N.Z.A.F. flight sergeant, said he believed wholly in the Bible, which said that when Jesus Christ returned to Earth, there would be disorder and Christians would have to flee to the “Judean hills.” Five members of the sect were appearing before Mr Mr J. K. Patterson. S.M., on 23 charges under the Arms Act and the Explosives Act. They have pleaded not guilty: all are represented by Mr G. Joseph. Mr K. G. Stone called the last of 23 prosecution witnesses yesterday. The hearing will finish today. Appearing with Squires are Trevor William Corbett, aged 25, an R.N.Z.A.F. flight sergeant, John Leslie Perkins, aged 21, an engineer, Paul Adrian Williams, aged 26, and Brian Charles Henshaw, aged 27, both accountants. The charges follow a police raid on No. 34 and No. 36 Richmond Grove, Woburn, on June 2. Thirtyseven firearms, including shotguns and .303 and .22 rifles, were taken from the

houses and cars on the properties. Several air rifles and pistols, a large amount of ammunition, re-loading equipment, more than 40,000 rounds of ammunition, and 57kg of gunpowder were also seized. Squires told the Court that he would use the weapons for hunting but not to kill a man because this was against the teaching of the Bible. Before becoming interested in the sect, while serving at Ohakea in 1973, he had owned firearms, had joined the Deer Stalkers’ Association, and had represented the base in service shooting competitions. To Mr Stone, Squires said that there was no connection between his religion and the guns. He had met the sect’s leader, Dr Douglas Metcalf, and knew that he collected antique weapons. Shown a picture of Dr Metcalf wearing a hat with "The Boss” written on it, he was asked, “Is he the boss?” and replied, “He is my pastor.” Other pictures showing Dr Metcalf dressed in Middle Eastern garb and shooting or holding a gun and one of him in an American steel helmet and naval officer’s jacket and

holding a sword were also shown to Squires. Mr Stone: Is it simply a coincidence that all of the members of your church in Lower Hutt and Dr Metcalf in Waipara have a common interest in firearms and explosives? Squires: It must be. Don’t you think this is a strange coincidence to be found in a religious group?: No. Earlier, Detective W. J. Jarvis said that he spoke to Corbett on June 3 when his car was stopped near Richmond Grove as he was driving to Government House, where he worked as a footman. Corbett had told him that the Waipara farm was built so that it could be defended if necessary. He had also mentioned a radio link. Police later went to Government House and took 3.5 kg of gunpowder and re-loading equipment found in the boot of Corbett’s car. The head of the Lower Hutt C. 1.8., Detective Inspector C. W. Wilson, read a letter dated October 28, 1976, which mentioned passages from the Gospel of St Matthew referring to famines, earthquakes, and other disasters about the time of the Messiah’s return and to fleeing to the hills.