A group of three protesters made a nuisance of themselves outside a Destiny Church service in Christchurch last night, with reports of verbal abuse on both sides and a protester allegedly being hit by a car. A Papanui man, Tony Tucker, said he was hit by a car driven by an elderly woman as she attempted to leave the service at Paparoa Street School, in Papanui, about 8pm. Tucker said he was carried a short distance on the car's bonnet and fell to the side before the woman drove away from the scene. Church-goers said the three protesters were being aggressive and intimidating. The protesters, who were confronted by male church members, claim church-goers were being abusive. Destiny Church Christchurch pastor Hudson Bond said the protesters appeared to be drunk and refused to let his congregants out of the school grounds. Tucker admits he and his friends had consumed "a few wines" before heading to the meeting. Police were called but were unable to attend the incident until after everyone had gone home.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 13th September 2004 - 12:00pm