I wonder how many people in the English speaking world have ever heard of Whakatane?
It has achieved 15 minutes of fame because of one William Singalargh, resident of that town, who threw a hedgehog at a 15 year old boy.
The hedgehog is now deceased and William Singalargh has been charged with assault with a weapon for his actions.
I assume the hedgehog was actually deceased when thrown, or that there is some doubt about its vital status at the time else William Singalargh would most surely be facing animal cruelty charges.
Anyway for some reason this sorry little anecdote of a Saturday night incident in small town New Zealand has spread through the international media. The BBC, USA Today, Associated Press and UPI amongst others have all worked it over.
Personally I wonder why it is a police matter in the first place, let alone worthy of the attention of such august institutions such as the BBC.
Darned if I know, I am well beyond involving in Saturday night fracas but there are plenty of incidents in my past which would have seen me before the courts as a defendant or appearing for the prosecution as a "victim" if this hedgehog throwing incident is any indication of what the authorities now deem appropriate to bring before the judiciary.
I know a fellow about the same age as the hedgehog throwing culprit who spends just about all his free time playing Warcraft on the internet, it has become an obsession in fact.
I suppose it lets him get the biffo out of his system in a socially acceptable manner but I doubt that it is healthy, mentally or physically.
But at least it keeps him out of the dock.
5 years in prison?
He'd do well to committ some decent crime before he gets put away if he has to pay that price....
like defrauding $840,000
or taking bribes from constituents or speeding at almost twice the open road limit to get to a rugby game or maybe just some plain old fashion corruption or stealing from children's charities.
Posted by: Rick | April 08, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Rick
Do people do that in New Zealand?
We'll have to pass another law about it.
After our clothing industry closes down now we've got an FTA with the worlds most populated regime of course.
Posted by: mickmac | April 08, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Rick
Do people do that in New Zealand?
We'll have to pass another law about it.
After our clothing industry closes down now we've got an FTA with the worlds most populated regime of course.
Posted by: mickmac | April 08, 2008 at 10:07 AM