Castislav ‘Sam’ Bracanov is the poo thrower

The Herald reports:

Metaphorical mud-slinging in court is not uncommon but rarely does it become literal.

On Thursday though, Auckland District Court Judge Anne Kiernan found herself on the end of more than just a verbal tirade.

An 80-year-old man flung faeces at her.

Police said it was understood to be horse manure but could not confirm its exact origin.

Court security staff scan everyone coming into the courthouse for metal items but the Ministry of Justice said “organic matter is very difficult to detect”.

The man was swiftly arrested but a spokeswoman said he was released later on the same day.

The man, who is known to police, will appear in Auckland District Court next week charged with assault with a weapon.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said Judge Kiernan, who has nearly 15 years’ experience on the bench, was unharmed by the attack.

She did not want to comment on the incident but it was confirmed yesterday that she took no time off work.

The poo thrower was not scheduled to appear in court on the day but it can be revealed he and the judge have history.

Just over a year ago she found the octogenarian guilty of assaulting a prominent New Zealander.

Judge Kiernan fined him $400 and ordered him to pay court costs of $130.

A quick google shows only one person fits that description – Castislav ‘Sam’ Bracanov.

Hopefully for this incident he’ll get something more serious that may deter him.