By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A MAN has been spared conviction after being found with a large hunting knife, a butterfly knife and a fold-out knife in his car in a Berwick car park in the middle of the night.
The man was seated in the driver’s seat when questioned by police about 2.25am on 29 July on Old Coach Road, a court heard.
Police searched the car after spotting the handle of the hunting knife, lodged in a black sheath between the centre console and the seat.
The gold-handled butterfly knife was seized from the glove-box, and the fold-out blade in the rear seat footwell.
The man, who pleaded guilty to three weapons charges, made full admissions to owning the blades and knowing the butterfly knife was a prohibited weapon.
The lawyer told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 27 September the accused had made the butterfly knife – inscribed with ‘GPGR’ which stands for ‘great power, great responsibility’.
It was not sharpened at the edges, the lawyer said.
The lawyer submitted for the return of the man’s hunting knife, which had been purchased the day before for his hobby as a compound-bow hunter.
The fold-out knife had been used regularly during camps with his parents “for his entire life”, the lawyer said.
The court was told that the inappropriately-stored weapons were found as a result of the man moving out of home at the time.
His car battery had broken down, and he had been waiting in the car park for several hours for a friend to pick him up, the lawyer said.
“At face value, being there at 2am in Berwick with a car in a dishevelled state with coke bottles and chips inside is a bit concerning,” the man’s lawyer said.
“He was playing with the (hunting) knife at the time.”
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Kerryn Steyn told the court that contrary to claims the man was moving house, the car wasn’t “full of belongings”.
“The car doesn’t look like the inside of a house.
“The knife is situated next to the seat, so it’s easily accessible to the driver.”
Magistrate Pauline Spencer gave the man “the benefit of the doubt” though “it’s a bit suspect where you’re found with the knives”.
“You just need to be more careful. You’re someone who otherwise keeps out of trouble.”
Ms Spencer ordered the return of the hunting knife, noting it had “some value” and could be used for a legitimate purpose.
“You just need to make sure you’re carrying it and using it for a lawful purpose.”
The man was placed on a six-month good behaviour bond, with the butterfly and fold-out knives forfeited for destruction.
