Threat to behead Goff ends in trial

A West Coast man was yesterday committed for trial on a charge of threatening to behead Justice and Foreign Minister Phil Goff.

Robert Frank Terry, 51, of Reefton, 79km northeast of Greymouth, is alleged to have made the threat in a telephone call to the electoral office co-ordinator of Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett on February 17 last year.

A depositions hearing in the Greymouth District Court heard from the call-taker, Suzanne Stuart, and Detective Darryl Adlam.

Justices of the peace Jeanette Oliver and Stuart Robertson found there was enough evidence to remand Terry on bail for a trial.

Ms Stuart told the hearing that Terry rang (giving his name and home address), complaining about previous injustices but the conversation was convivial until the threats were made.

Terry initially said he was going to shoot Mr Goff but later said he would kidnap a class of schoolchildren, behead them and present one head on a platter to Mr Goff before also beheading the minister.

Earlier in the call, Ms Stuart said Terry had indicated an empathy with terrorists, saying he admired people like Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma Federal Building bomber, who showed society what they were capable of when wronged.

In court this week, Terry began cross-examining Ms Stuart but his first question became a speech about his admiration for McVeigh and other terrorists, including the four involved in last week's bombings in London.

Terry said he had no sympathy for the victims of the London bombings because British Prime Minister Tony Blair had no sympathy for the victims of Fallujah.

Mr Adlam spoke to Terry on February 24 last year.

Terry, he said, admitted making the call to the MP's office but denied threatening Mr Goff.

During the interview, he told the detective he, Terry, was a training marksman and that Mr Adlam might one day find a red mark on his forehead or body.

Asked to explain himself, Terry said: "You are a warrior like me. We are warriors."

- NZPA