Judge changes mind

Press, 20 July 1984, Page 16

Judge changes mind

PA Auckland A judge ordered the destruction of a man’s knife, but changed his mind when told it was an antique brought up from a shipwreck 70 years ago. Before Judge Kerr in the District Court at Auckland was Christopher Kenneth Smith, a sickness beneficiary, of Hamilton. Smith, aged 35, pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. He was convicted and fined $l2O.

Sergeant S. L. Cole said that Smith flagged down a police car in Queen Street. He said that he was in Auckland without money or accommodation, and he showed the police the knife. He said he carried it in case he got into a “spot of bother” and needed to use it. Smith said he did not say he would use the knife, but he thought he would if his life were in real danger. The Judge ordered the destruction of the knife and told Smith that carrying a

weapon could lead to the temptation to use it. Smith asked if he could keep the knife and hang it on his wall. He did not carry it with him all the time. It was an antique found in a wrecked ship 70 years ago. Revoking his order, the Judge said that the defendant did seem to have some sentimental attachment to the knife. He asked Smith to give an undertaking that he would not carry it in public with him again.