Offensive weapon charge earns supervision

A man whose hand was severed by a samurai sword has been sentenced to 12 months' intensive supervision for being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Matthew James Durham, 21, who pleaded guilty to being in possession of a crowbar in August, was sentenced by Judge Gregory Ross in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday.

A police summary of facts stated that Durham had been drinking among a group of about 40 young people at a Linton St party about 7pm on May 30.

The unemployed man had been "verbally and racially abusive" toward a large group of male Maori nearby.

He then left the party and fetched a 700mm crowbar from his home.

Flanked by his associates, Durham approached the group.

When he raised the weapon at them, a 16-year-old hit him with a samurai sword in retaliation – severing his hand.

Durham's hand was then successfully reattached by surgeons at Hutt Hospital.

He discharged himself from hospital against surgeons' wishes days later and was arrested for possession of the crowbar.

The teen, who cannot be named under Youth Court restrictions, admitted attacking him with the sword and will also be intensely monitored for the next 12 months.

He was to be put before a judge to be reviewed on December 18.

- © Fairfax NZ News