Attack on man over faeces incident 'justified'

File photo / Greg Bowker

A man who beat a fellow camper who scooped up human faeces and put them in his girlfriend's handbag at a camp ground in the Marlborough Sounds has justified his attack on the man.

Wellington man Andrew Carman, 58, was allegedly knocked unconscious and kicked in the head while he was lying on the ground at Cow Shed Bay camp ground at Portage Bay.

Blenheim forestry worker Lance Mackle, 20, was charged with injuring with intent after the beating. He is due to appear in Blenheim District Court on December 13 along with a 21-year-old female factory hand, of Blenheim.

The incident happened after Mr Carman went to confront the group of young campers about playing loud music. He saw a pile of human faeces, scooped them up with a shovel and put them in a handbag on the front seat of a car.

Mackle and all but one of the group were away from the site at the time.

Mr Carman had not approached the group to complain about the music during the night, Mackle told the Marlborough Express. The group had picked a campsite away from other people so they would not disturb anyone.

"If he had a problem (with the noise), he could have just asked us, talked to us about it."

Instead, Mr Carman broke into the car through a rear passenger window in the morning and put the faeces in the handbag, Mackle said.

"I'm taking the consequences for punching him, but I had a fair reason.

"I'm sure any boyfriend would do the same," he said.

- NZPA