Man uses hedgehog as a weapon!

[Pye]

BBC - 7 April 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/7334233.stm

A man in New Zealand has been charged with using a hedgehog as a weapon, the New Zealand Herald has reported.

Police said William Singalargh, 27, had hurled the hedgehog about 5m (16ft) at a 15-year-old boy.

"It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," said Senior Sgt Bruce Jenkins, in the North Island town of Whakatane.

It was unclear whether the hedgehog was still alive when it was thrown, though it was dead when collected as evidence.

The police spokesman said the suspect was arrested "for assault with a weapon, namely the hedgehog."

Mr Singalargh is due to appear in court on 17 April. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.

*hahaha*

[KontanKarite]

Bwahahahahahahaha!

[Raptor]

LOL. Like using a rock with spikes...
Probably was already dead if he managed to pick it up.

[††BlackRose††]

LOL!!!
That's definitely a first.

[LaBelleDameSansMerci]

Yeah, I can't say I've ever heard of that... I think the main reason, at least for me, that it's funny is because it's so absurd I've no idea how else to react.
It is disrespectful to the hedgehog, even if it was dead. If it was alive... he ought to be charged with cruelty to animals too.

[Pye]

I don't about it being a first. I've seen some dodgy things being lobbed at people around here. I'm often tempted to fire some stinking carcases myself. Smelled one the other day (I clean bones) and thought how much of a good weapon/deterrent it would make in Limerick of a Friday night! =D

Did anyone notice the rather large age difference between the hedgehog chucker and the punctured victim?

I doubt it was alive. Being thrown wouldn't likely kill a hog. They're quite tough unless they're being run over by cars. I've found quite a fair few survivors even then.

[LaBelleDameSansMerci]

Even so, it's disrespecting a dead body. If the kid was coming at him with a knife and the only weapon-like thing he could find in a pinch was a dead hedgehog (why'd he have it/where did he find it, anyway?), I could let it go, but since they arrested him for assault with a weapon, it doesn't seem like that's the case.

[korinna5555]

I miss my hedgie..

I can't believe someone would THROW one!

[Pye]

Originally Posted by LaBelleDameSansMerci

Even so, it's disrespecting a dead body.

I suppose so but I guess not everyone sees a dead body as anything but a vessel no longer needed or used by the departed. I personally respect all dead bodies as they are the basis for my work but I wouldn't see anything wrong in throwing a smelly carcass at someone if they pissed me off. It would have to be skinned of course and all usable bits removed and taken care of. But that's just me. I find it hilarious that he faces going away for it.

[IsolatedReptile]

Originally Posted by LaBelleDameSansMerci

(why'd he have it/where did he find it, anyway?)

Hedgehog! The new mace!

[SultryGothVixen]

Oh man. That's definitely a first. Hahaha.

[killer_asian_Dax]

Wow. Facing up to 5 whole years in PRISON for chucking a hedgehog.

*shakes head* Bad call mister.... bad call.

If I were going to do something that warrants a punishment of up to 5 years in prison, you can best your sweet candied pants that I'll have done something much more horrible than assaulting some poor child with a hedgehog. If you're gonna do something that you'll be severely punished for, make it worth it!

[TopHaggardDoll]

What do you mean something worth going to prison for!? THIS! s totally worth it!

Imagine the conversations!

Inmate 1: What you in here for?
Inmate 2: I stole a car and got involved in a hit and run dude, how about you guys?
Inmate 1: I killed a guy.
William: I threw a hedgehog at a kid, man, it was some pretty deep shit.

[prophecyofdoom]

I hope he does get five years because the wrongness of this story is just outrageous. I knew I shouldn't have fucking clicked this link. Reading shit like this inspires me to all sorts of hateful thoughts about humanity in general. I seriously doubt this vile person just happened to stumble across a dead hedgehog when he was looking for a weapon.

[ionic_angel]

I doubt even more that he stumbled across a live one.

Also, what's all this about "respecting" a dead body? Of an animal, no less. I mean, we eat them...is that being disrespectful? What about the fly you swatted the other day, or the ant you accidentally stepped on? Was that mini-murder?

[Dark Clarissa]

I DO feel sorry for the hedgehog...however lmao!!!! I find this so hilarious! I can just envision it. But I agree with prophecyofdoom, he was just looking for a weapon, in some ways its a good thing he didn't get his hand on anything other than a hedgehog. I mean what if he'd found a rock and had seriously injured the kid?

I wonder what happened to the hedgehog? Is it still in an evidence bag pending the court trial? Has it been embalmed? Was it given an autopsy?

[Wednesday Friday Addams]

And if its still alive is it getting done for aiding the guy?

[Jaye Jang]

I feel for the kid and the hedgehog. Fortunately, this occurred in a more genteel place. In my home state, the crusty older gentleman probably would've pitched something larger and more painful, like, say, a porcupine.

[Corpsey]

Only in Whakatane...

It was probably dead and they guy was aiming to give him a sickly wound more than anything.

I really should read the newspaper more often.

[AngelikDemonik]

I hope Sonic and Shadow jail r.ape him.

[Wormboy]

Originally Posted by Jaye Jang

I feel for the kid and the hedgehog. Fortunately, this occurred in a more genteel place. In my home state, the crusty older gentleman probably would've pitched something larger and more painful, like, say, a porcupine.

This made me laugh so hard for some strange reason.

[KontanKarite]

I would have used an armadillo.

What I find really funny though is the idea that the hedgehog was still alive.

[drewsilla]

Poor, poor Sonic!!

[Jaye Jang]

Glad you got a good laugh, Wormboy.

As for the article, no offense G.net follks, but I shouldn't have read this thread before going to bed this morning (I work graveyard). You know how you dream about the last thing you see, read, or think of. Well... I had the strangest dream last night. I dreamed I was back in the Army, on maneuvers, and instead of pulling "JC" needles out of people with the splinter forceps, I was pulling out hedgehog and porcupine spines. (A "JC" bush is a nasty bush with 2-inch long spines that sting. They call it a "JC" bush at "Ft. Cartoon" because if you come in contact with one you 'WILL take the Lord's name in vain'). Anyway, in my dream we were using WMD (weapons of mass destruction). However, instead of hand grenades we were lobbing hedgehogs -- and ballistic porcupines. We also flushed out a few 'well-known' terrorists by dropping strategically placed polecats (instead of 'smart bombs') and 'taking them down' with a volley of rabid badgers. Upshot: Before I 'lay me down to sleep' I should probably avoid G.net and bad pizza.

[Agent17]

This is hilarious for so many reasons.