Samurai sword attack victim arrested

The victim of a samurai sword attack which severed his hand over the weekend was today arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.

Police said Matt Durham was charged over an altercation which preceded the sword attack in which he allegedly wielded a crowbar.

Durham said on Wednesday he was attacked outside his Linton Street flat in Palmerston North after gatecrashers arrived at a party.

"(One) just ran at me with the sword. I put my hand up to defend myself.

"It was like something out of the movies ... like something out of America."

A 16-year-old youth from Bunnythorpe, near Feilding, has been charged with wounding Durham with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Durham was criticised by doctors after discharging himself two days after a 10-hour operation to reattach his left hand at Hutt Hospital.

The plastic surgeon who led the team, Jim Armstrong, called the decision "absolutely crazy" and said he risked losing the hand.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said today he could offer no further comment on the events as two people were now before the courts.

- NZPA