Gulpilil’s machete for ‘cultural use’

Yeah…right!

ABORIGINAL actor David Gulpilil has been found not guilty of carrying an offensive weapon after a judge accepted that the machete he produced during an argument was used for cultural purposes.

He produced the machette during a heated arguement over his drinking whereupon I think the definition of cultural purposes may have gone a little astray.

I have no agenda against David but I think the trial judge Magistrate Tanya Fong Lim could’ve at least spoke severely to him.

“The defendant is an artist and a carver. He used the machete to carve didgeridoos, totem poles and strip stringy bark for paintings,” she told Darwin Magistrates Court.

“There is also evidence he used it to help him build shelters while out bush, like he had done shortly before arriving in Darwin.

“I accept the defendant’s explanation for his possession of the machete.”

Fine, that’s the possession matter out of the way but as far as I know possessing a machette isn’t a crime anyway; (it had better not be because I still have my army issue model in the back shed). But surely producung one during a heated discussion is tantamount to threatening.

It’s not as if he doesn’t have a conflict resolution issue as he has another count of violence due next week.

Last week Gulpilil’s wife took out a domestic violence order against her husband over an incident in Darwin on December 28 last year. That matter has been adjourned until January 17.

I do think David needs some help.