'Llama Man' Blames Nutmeg for Spitting in Strangers' Faces
A pinch of nutmeg can do wonders for a bowl of homemade mac n' cheese. But add too much? Well, then you may have a problem. Just ask Sweden's Llama Man.
The unnamed 28-year-old first came to the attention of local law enforcement in January, when he ran around town spitting on people like a llama. And on Friday, he was sentenced to four months behind bars after a judge convicted him of making illegal threats and harassment.
He blames nutmeg for his bizarre behavior.
You see, nutmeg contains a natural hallucinogenic. In small doses, it's fine. In large doses, it acts much like LSD. And just like LSD, it can be life threatening. A nutmeg overdose can cause painful gastrointestinal problems and a rapid heart beat. Individuals with unknown heart conditions have been known to just drop dead.
In this country, nutmeg was the school kid drug of choice back in 2010. It seems Llama Man (and perhaps Sweden) has just caught up with the trend.
He told the judge that the spice is responsible for a number of his past indiscretions, reports The Local. He spent part of the summer in a hospital, and while there, he dislocated a guard's leg and tried to strangle another. He was so violent that they kept him sedated.
Then in January, he began spitting on passersby like a llama. That got him into a bit of trouble, but The Local reports that the real trouble came in February when he sent two sisters death threats via text message.
It's clear the judge was not sold on his excuse. As is the case in most of the U.S., it appears intentional inebriation is not a valid criminal defense under Swedish law.
So whether you live here or abroad, take it from Llama Man -- it's not wise to nutmeg and crime.
Related Resources:
- Nutmeg Overdose Blamed For Swedish Man's Spitting Attack (Huffington Post)
- Teens Found Getting High Off Nutmeg (Philadelphia DUI Blog)
- Defending Yourself Against a Criminal Charge (FindLaw)