Laws posts Wilson pic
Wanganui district councillor Michael Laws is refusing to explain the posting of a photograph on Twitter that he says shows paroled sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson at a fishing competition over the weekend.
Mr Laws loaded the image on to Twitter late yesterday afternoon, and wrote: "Posting Stewart Murray Wilson supposedly under Corrections control @ fishing comp over weekend. NB: regis number."
But inquiries by the Chronicle refute Mr Laws' claim.
Mr Wilson said he did go fishing at the weekend, but it was at the North Mole and not as part of any competition.
The Chronicle is aware of two fishing events that took place over the weekend.
However, Waitotara Hotel Fishing Contest organiser Mary Martin said she processed all her competition's entries and put them into sections, and said there were no Wilsons among them.
Mrs Martin was shocked by Mr Laws' post and wanted it removed from Twitter.
She said the competition, held on Saturday, was for fishing done from the shoreline immediately north and south of Waiinu Beach.
She was at the weigh-in immediately after the fishing concluded at 2pm and didn't see anyone like Mr Wilson.
On Sunday, the Castlecliff Club Fishing Adjunct held a Take a Kid Fishing event at Castlecliff Wharf, about 1km from the North Mole.
Participant Barry Hood, who took along his two grandchildren, said there was no sign of Mr Wilson on the day.
Mr Wilson was unaware of the Twitter posting when the Chronicle contacted him yesterday evening. He said it was very underhanded of Mr Laws, albeit typical. He was surprised to hear that the photograph had been taken.
"Most people just leave us alone to do fishing," he said.
Mr Laws would not say whether he took the picture or it had been supplied to him, and refused to answer further questions, before posting another message on Twitter: "Odear; the Wanganui Chronicle wants PROOF that the photo is of Stewart Murray Wilson because ... he wasn't entered in the fishing comp! Gee!"
