August 11, 2011

Walking stick 'weapon' to be returned

By David Clarkson at Christchurch Men's Prison

Police have agreed to return a family hierloom Maori carved walking stick to a responsible family member ? but not to the methylated spirits drinker they took it off.

They have also had an expert look at the carved stick who said it did not date from 1857 as claimed by Deane Rickson Edwards who was waving it about in the middle of Mairehau Road when he was arrested on a weapon charge.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Dave Murray said at a Christchurch District Court sitting inside the men?s prison today: ?It is not a very old item at all, but even so, it may still have some significance to the family.?

Edwards said his cousin was waving the stick around as they walked down the road, drunk. Edwards, who is a meth drinker, took it off him and then the police took it off him and charged him with possession of an offensive weapon.

Edwards was persuaded to plead guilty to the charge today after the police agreed not to destroy the hierloom but return it to ?a responsible family member?. Edwards wants it to go back to his cousin, who he says is the owner.

He pleaded guilty to all the charges he faced today: unlawfully taking a mountainbike, assaulting the bike owner who tried to stop him, two of disorderly behaviour, and the weapon charge.

Judge Jane Farish remanded him for a probation report to consider his suitability for home detention, in custody for sentence at Rangiora on October 11.

Edwards made certain that the judge wrote on the file that the walking stick was to be returned rather than destroyed, which is the usual fate of confiscated weapons.