'Agent of God' jailed for threat to kill

A Christchurch man who believed he was an agent of God has been jailed for more than two years after he threatened to kill his neighbour in the name of the Almighty.

Craig Watson, 41, was sentenced to two years and seven months' prison in Christchurch District Court today after a jury earlier found him guilty of threatening to kill.

The court was told Watson argued with his neighbour and told her that God would kill her and her husband for not believing in him.

Crown prosecutor Sara Jamieson said the neighbour took the threat seriously.

She said Watson had 76 previous convictions, with a trend toward violent offending.

His pre-sentence report showed he did not agree with the jury, had no remorse, and did not want to attend rehabilitation programmes, she said.

Defence counsel Vicki Walsh said Watson's threat was not acted upon.

Her client was a complex person who would benefit from community support. He had maladaptive personality traits and could not control his strongly held views, she said.

He suffered stress, anxiety and paranoia, which led to emotional responses, some of which were inappropriate.

Judge Michael Crosbie said Watson would have come across to the victim of his threatening behaviour as incredibly obsessive, violent and completely over-the-top.

The evidence in the trial was bizarre, he said.

Watson believed God had empowered him to do certain things, and he had a sense of entitlement to stand over people, Judge Crosbie said.

Watson's risk of reoffending was verging on high, and he had an alarming list of previous convictions.

Despite Watson's fervent religious beliefs, the judge said that unless he received some form of intervention he would offend again.

He recommended there should be a full psychological and psychiatric report before Watson could be considered for release from prison.

- NZPA