By Cam Lucadou-wells
A MAN who threatened to shoot police officers at Pakenham police station on 18 May has been placed on an 18-month community corrections order.
The 32-year-old was charged with threatening serious injury after telling a police officer over the phone that he’d disarm police, shoot an officer and then himself, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard on 15 August.
The man, who had been asked to attend a police interview over family-violence allegations, then later called back the station.
He told the officer he’d take his partner and three children “far away” and threatened to shoot the officer.
The man stated he’d bring his “Muslim brothers with me” to surround the police station and “see what happens”.
In a subsequent police interview, he denied the family violence allegations and making the threatening calls.
The court heard the man, who identified himself as Catholic, took particular offence that he said he’d bring his “Muslim brothers”.
The man’s lawyer told the court that the accused had struggled reconciling the Catholic and Turkish aspects of his background, and undergone “severe” mental health treatment since the incident.
The accused had complied with all appointments as part of a community treatment order, which was extended to eight weeks from 8 August, the lawyer said.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen took strong exception to the lawyer’s “victim blaming” language in describing the man’s relationship with his separated wife as “toxic”.
“If it’s (the accused’s characterisation), I’ll jail him.”
The wife, who had been the victim of multiple family violence assaults and threats from the man since 2009, had taken out a full intervention order, the court heard.
Mr Vandersteen noted the man had responded well to a stable residence, family support, employment and treatment order in recent months.
He was also impressed by the accused’s recent good grooming and courtesy towards the court and Corrections staff.
“Even seeing you in court over the past month, you seem a lot better. You seem a lot more loose.”
The man who also served 17 days in remand custody was put on a treatment-only community corrections order with supervision, and a federal good-behaviour bond.
