Rare mute swan killed

Press, 3 June 1982, Page 4

Rare mute swan killed

PA Hamilton The female of a pair of rare mute swans was skinned and refrigerated after being killed at the Hamilton Lake last month, the District Court at Hamilton has been told. T But its killer, after, reading a newspaper article (about its disappearance, disposed of it in the Waikato R’iver the next day, according to the police prosecutor, ;Sergeant E. Stacey. Andrew Williamson, aged 21, a machine fitter, of Hamilton, admitted a charge of killing a female mute swan defined as wildlife that

was “absolutely protected" under the Wildlife Act, 1953. Mr Stacey said the swan was one of a pair given by a Hamilton acclimatisation society foster family to Hamilton City in 1975. The swans, property of the Crown, were a rare breed which, once mated, remained partners for life, he said. Williamson had killed the female by hitting it on the back of ’ the neck with a branch after he and an associate chased the pair along Innes Common late on May 9, the court heard. Mr Stacey said the defendant put it in the boot of his associate's car and returned

home where several days later he skinned and refrigerated it. But the next day, after publicity over the disappearance, he threw it in the river. Mr Stacey said that when apprehended Williamson expressed remorse about the offence. Saying the defendant had behaved like a lout, and was lucky not to be facing an additional charge of cruelty, Judge Millar fined him $2OO and ordered him to pay the Hamilton City Council $250 in compensation. The court had earlier been told that the maximum penalty for the offence was $5OO.