Man charged with planning Prince Charles assault

Castislav Sam Bracanov sits on a rubbish bin after appearing at the Auckland District Court where he entered a not guilty plea for allegedly preparing to commit an assault on Britain Prince Charles and his wife Camila in Auckland on November 13, 2012. AFP

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Police say they caught a New Zealand man before he had a chance to throw a bucket of horse manure over Prince Charles and his wife Camilla during a royal visit to the Pacific nation.

Castislav “Sam” Bacanov, 76, pleaded not guilty in an Auckland court Tuesday to planning a crime in a public place. He has agreed under his bail conditions to keep at least 500 meters (1,600 feet) from the royal couple.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are on a six-day tour of New Zealand, the last leg of their Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th Jubilee.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said officers arrested Bacanov, a known anti-royalist, on Monday near a downtown Auckland venue where Charles and Camilla were due to appear. She said the royal couple had not yet arrived at the outdoor venue and were never in any danger.

Hegarty said officers were making sure the area was safe when they noticed the man with the bucket.

Bacanov is due to appear in court again on Nov. 27.