So there's a murder trial going on in England right now, which a woman named Arizona Devine Watterson is accused of killing a man named Billy Rogers. The defendant claims it's an accident, the prosecution says she's lying and that it was premeditated. At any rate, it's interesting to read the coverage of the story, because what's being focused on is not her defense or the testimony of witnesses. No, what makes the story newsworthy is ZOMG SHE USED A PAGAN DAGGER!
You actually have to read halfway through the article before you get to anything remotely connected to witnesses other than the lady who sold Watterson the athame. I'm curious, if she had whacked him with a baseball bat instead, would the lead paragraphs be ZOMG ITS A LOUISVILLE SLUGGER instead? Clearly, it's a really slow news week over in the Isle of Man.
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You actually have to read halfway through the article before you get to anything remotely connected to witnesses other than the lady who sold Watterson the athame. I'm curious, if she had whacked him with a baseball bat instead, would the lead paragraphs be ZOMG ITS A LOUISVILLE SLUGGER instead? Clearly, it's a really slow news week over in the Isle of Man.
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This, in a country where proposals to ban kitchen knives with sharp points is being seriously discussed! I have to agree that leading off with that much detail about the provenance of the dagger is sensationalist … but if this had been in the USA, you’d likely have seen a lot more “ZOMG” than this mildly-worded story.
What were they doing ‘horsing around’ with a ceremonial blade? I don’t play around with butter knives, let alone pointed and sharp edged knives.
First off, the Isle of Man isn’t in England. Secondly it’s always a slow news week here, which is why we like it I guess. Thirdly, It really could be any knife. I’m sure there was no ritual link. By the way, what are Pagan knives for?
It was an athame but ther was no ritual link. It was a silly drunken game and she is paying the price. She has to live with this for the rest of her life. She is an extremely nice caring person
Catty – my mistake, about IOM. I realize it is a self-governing entity, but was under the impression that it was considered under dependency of the Crown. My apologies for the error
Just to inform, an Pagan knife that was allegedly used was an Athame which is a blunt ceremonial knife used in most Pagan rituals. Ok some do have a sharp point but if owned by true Pagans the blades are really dull. Considering she isnt a Pagan its odd why she would have one, plus if a Pagan she would not be playing around with it under any circumstances and in most is not normally allowed to be touched by anyone but the owner. I was wondering if you could do damage with an athame as is, as it is so blunt, but I guess with enough force and such a sharp point it is possible to kill or maim withough sharpening the blade. I am just wondering now if there is going to be a Witch hunt (sad attempt at a witicism) about people who own athames. I hope not, but knowing the Isle of Man!!!! Ah well I guess we will soon find out. I think that people will assume that she was a Pagan and its not going to do us real Pagans any good at all in the eye of the general public!!!!! Only time will tell!!!
She is a pagan,so you shouldn’t assume anything. she shouldn’t have been ‘playing with it’ but we can all make mistakes
Rhiannon,
What do you ‘know’ about the Isle of Man that leads you to think it’s people will start a witch-hunt against Pagans?