Police call victims' rights hero 'grizzler'

Paul Espiner says that when confronting a woman's tormentor, he didn't want to become a victim himself. Picture / Amos Chapple

A man who smashed a car window with a machete after going to the aid of a young solo mother should not have picked up the weapon, a police officer says.

Sergeant Malcolm Greig says Paul Espiner, whose conviction in the New Plymouth District Court this week sparked a storm on talkback radio, should also not be grizzling to the press.

Espiner thought he had done the right thing last October when he ran across the road to help a woman who was being attacked in her home by an 18-year-old man. The man had entered her house and smashed items with a broomstick.

Espiner intervened, armed with a machete he used to chop wood. The intruder retreated to a car, which Espiner struck with his machete, breaking a window.

Espiner was arrested. The other man walked away without punishment, his name suppressed, thanks to the justice system's diversion scheme.

Espiner was charged with possessing an offensive weapon and intentional damage. The intentional damage charge was dropped in exchange for a guilty plea on the weapons charge. Because of past drink-drive and cannabis convictions, he was unable to apply for diversion.

He told the Herald that taking a machete was the best form of defence and anything could have happened if he had not taken the action he did. At the time, he felt he was dealing with "a couple of P freaks".

But Sergeant Greig said Espiner did not have full knowledge of the facts and should not have used the weapon. His case for acquittal would have been stronger if he had not struck the vehicle, the policeman says.

Police had no evidence that threats to kill the woman were being made and there was nothing to suggest the home invader was on drugs, Mr Greig said.

"He was not an invader as such. He was going there to retrieve his girlfriend's handbag that this occupier had allegedly taken and had possession of. It was a teenage spat. There's a lot of misinformation, mixed messages, and small town gossip."

"The boy" who was acquitted was more or less harmless, Mr Greig said. "For [Mr Espiner] to grizzle to the press is frustrating."

Mr Espiner admits he'll think twice about taking a machete with him next time, but that doesn't mean he would not arm himself again.

"In the hallway I could see him swinging his weapon away and I could hear her screaming. He was going ballistic. I thought 'I'm not going over there unarmed, I'm not going to be a victim'."