Sword attack accused appears in court

Samurai sword attack victim Matt Durham was in court yesterday making his first appearance on a charge of possessing an offensive weapon.

Police allege he wielded a crowbar in public outside his Palmerston North flat sometime before he was attacked there with a sword on May 30.

The assault left his left hand dangling by just skin and tendons.

It was reattached at Hutt Hospital after 10-1/2 hours of microsurgery.

Lead surgeon Jim Armstrong criticised Durham, 20, when he discharged himself from hospital within 48 hours of surgery.

Speaking outside Palmerston North District Court, Durham said the pain in his hand had begun to subside, but doctors had told him he would require about two years of treatment before it returned to normal. He had begun receiving treatment for his injury.

"It's feeling okay, pretty good," he told The Dominion Post.

"I've been back a couple of times (to Palmerston North Hospital) to have physio and stuff."

Durham entered no plea to the weapons charge and avoided a court-imposed curfew because of his injury.

The court was told his injury would make it difficult to adhere to.

"With my arm I get really tired and I sometimes need to go to my parents' so I can get a rest."

He was ordered to appear at Palmerston North police station every Monday, told not to make contact with the 16-year-old who has been charged with attacking him and remanded on bail until June 18.

- NZPA