Quake pensioner defends weapon charge

Photo / Mark Mitchell

A pensioner arrested and allegedly "roughed up'' by armed police while protecting his quake-hit Christchurch property was back before the court today to defend the charges, which he says could cost him $10,000 in legal fees.

Retired engineer John Bennett, 65, armed himself with a child's softball bat and ancient air pistol after fearing intruders when he was woken in the early hours.

But instead of finding looters or burglars, who have been targeting the area, he stumbled upon armed police hunting fugitives.

He claims to have been stood on by a police officer before being pinned against a fence with a gun pointed to his head.

Startled by the noise, his wife Iris, 64, came to see what was going on. She was horrified to see her husband pinned to the fence with a dark figure "pointing a gun to his head''.

Mr Bennett was arrested and charged with carrying an air pistol without some lawful, proper, and sufficient purpose and possessing an offensive weapon with an apparent intention to use it to commit an offence involving the fear of violence.

The pensioner is bemused and angered by the charges. He said: "It's like the police are wanting to make work for themselves or to show the public that they are needed.

"I don't think there will be much change out of $8000 to $10,000 in defending these charges. It is unbelievable - I can't believe the police are going with this. I'm not well, just with the worry and stress of it all.''

He was back at Christchurch District Court at Nga Hau e Wha marae this morning to defend the charges, which he describes as "absolutely ridiculous''.

Mr Bennett, who has a pacemaker, was given a registrar's remand until February 15 when he is next due to appear at court.