New Zealander admits Prince Charles manure plan

An elderly New Zealand anti-royalist planned to hurl manure at Prince Charles and his wife Camilla during their visit to Auckland, he said Tuesday. In a court appearance Sam Bracanov, 74, pleaded not guilty to preparing to commit an assault. But minutes later he told reporters outside that he had purchased horse manure and mixed it with water so it became like "porridge", intending to throw it at the British heir to the throne. "I would have done it," he told reporters, addressing them while sitting on an upturned rubbish bin.He said the plan was a protest at Charles' privileged position. "He didn't qualify with his brain, he qualified with his body, and what (the) body produce(s) goes to toilet, so I would hit him with what goes to toilet," he said. Bracanov, described by police as "a known anti-royalist", was arrested on Monday shortly before the royal couple met crowds on the Auckland waterfront as part of a tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee. Police said he was detained before Charles and Camilla arrived at the venue. Bracanov was released on bail by Auckland District Court after being ordered to remain at least 500 metres (yards) from the royals on their tour of the former colony.He reportedly attempted a similar action when Charles visited in 1994, trying to spray air freshener at him to "remove the stink of royalty". In 1988, he threw a bucketful of horse manure at a car carrying King Juan Carlos of Spain on a state visit to New Zealand and was convicted of disorderly behaviour, Australia's Fairfax Media reported. Small numbers of republicans have demonstrated at events during Charles and Camilla's trip but kept their protests peaceful, limiting themselves to chanting and carrying signs criticising the monarchy.An opinion poll taken in the lead up to their visit found 74 percent of New Zealanders favoured retaining Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, with 19 percent supporting a republic and seven percent undecided. Charles and Camilla are on the last leg of the diamond jubilee tour, which has also taken in Papua New Guinea and Australia. They were enjoying a rest day from official engagements Tuesday before travelling to Wellington on Wednesday, where Charles will celebrate his 64th birthday. The tour wraps up in Christchurch on Friday.