Police: Man Used Hedgehog As Weapon

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A New Zealand man has been accused of assault with a prickly weapon - a hedgehog. Police allege that William Singalargh, 27, picked up the hedgehog and threw it at a 15-year-old boy in the North Island east coast town of Whakatane on Feb. 9. "It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," police Senior Sgt. Bruce Jenkins said Monday. The teen did not need medical treatment, he added. Police arrested Singalargh shortly after the incident, and charged him with assault with a weapon - "namely the hedgehog," Jenkins said. At a hearing in Whakatane District Court on Feb. 14, Singalargh's lawyer said he intended to plead innocent, The Herald on Sunday newspaper reported. The case is due to resume on April 17. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison, Jenkins said. "People often get charged with assault for throwing things at other people," Jenkins said, although he admitted the use of a hedgehog as a weapon was "uncommon." It was unclear if he also would face animal cruelty charges. The Herald said the hedgehog was dead when it was collected as evidence, but did not know if it was dead or alive at the time of the alleged attack. The Herald reported Singalargh's arrest under the headline "Raise your hands and step away from the hedgehog."
This article interested me so much just for the simple fact it involves a hedgehog which is animal you really don't often here about. Up until a few years ago I thought Sonic was the only one and that it was just a character that was made up but no no no they do exist and clearly can be used as a weapon. I find rather funny that this man just threw this animal at this teen who was probably just provoking him and got fed up. I hope that the animal was already deceased before it was used as a weapon because I am an animal lover an would be rather upset to find out otherwise. Even if it wasn't, me personally would not be able to pick up a dead animal and throw it at someone but if provoked enough I would go to extreme measures. Now I'm not saying this man was right or wrong but it seems to me that this teen had to be doing something to annoy this adult to make him pick up an animal and improvise it as a weapon rather clever in my book. I just think both sides of the story should be looked at before they begin to pass judgement on this man.