A rat’s tail is a length of hair 'designed to hang down the back of the neck and back,' Justice Hinton said. Hammond put out road spikes to stop the car, according to a newly-published Auckland High Court judgment. Hammond, 26, admitted cutting the hair and said he saw cords and cut the rat's tail without thinking. Justice Hinton also said the lower court's judgment had some problematic statements, including a claim Hammond cut the rat's tail for his own "entertainment or gratification". The High Court judge added: "Conviction or no conviction, the appellant could still face dismissal from his employer, who knows about the offence."

Source: Stuff October 09, 2019 22:32 UTC