Arrest over pink church attack

The fourth man alleged to be responsible for a homophobic and anti-Semitic attack on a former church on the West Coast has been charged – four months after the incident.

Wellington man Nathaniel Romanos, 26, has been charged with intentional damage and is due to reappear in the Wellington District Court in January.

Police confirmed they had arrested the fourth man allegedly involved in vandalising the pink building on the West Coast in June after a judge said it was troubling he had not been charged. Two of the other men arrested escaped conviction and the third will be sentenced in Greymouth today.

Romanos’ alleged involvement was noted in the police summary of facts and the court heard the police file had been sent to Wellington, where he lived, but it took four months for him to be arrested.

NZ Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses said she was ‘‘very pleased’’ the fourth alleged offender had been found.

The old church – painted bright pink and named Gloria – in Blaketown, Greymouth, is owned by poet and artist Sam DuckorJones, who has said it is a public artwork and a ‘‘a temple of nondenominational queer celebration’’. It was daubed with antiSemitic and homophobic messages on June 2.

A rainbow flag staked on the front lawn was also set alight.