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A former Canberra-based journalist accused of threatening to carry out beheadings, driven by his extreme religious views, has been remanded in custody.
Key points:
- James Waugh is charged with threatening to cause public alarm and possessing a weapon to be used to kill
- He is also charged with using social media to menace
- A mental health assessment found no illness to explain his behaviour
James Michael Waugh, 28, was arrested on Tuesday evening when police swooped on his home in Canberra’s south after a tip-off to the National Security Hotline.
Today the former Queanbeyan Age reporter was charged in the ACT Magistrates Court with threatening to act with intent to cause public alarm, using a carriage service to menace others and possessing a weapon to be used to kill.
The threats allegedly included a Facebook post on the Canberra House of Prayer page, which read “I’m going to kill every single one of you dog polytheist c****.”
Court documents revealed in another message allegedly posted by Mr Waugh to a group chat he said:
“I have issued threats, along with my name and address, to every coward dog church in Canberra. If you know someone with balls send them along. I’ve bought a scimitar and intend to cut their heads off in my front yard as a reprisal”.
Mr Waugh appeared in court yesterday but was referred for a mental health assessment.
Today the court heard the assessment was that Mr Waugh had no mental illness to explain his behaviour.
Prosecutor Danielle Perks said the assessment revealed he would be a danger if released.
“[He showed] the ideation of a clear intention to harm others based on the defendants extreme religious beliefs,” she said.
Court documents also showed police alleged Mr Waugh told them the threats on social media were aimed at Trinitarians, and that he had issued the threats to any local Christian church he was able to locate.
Mr Waugh also allegedly told police he had purchased the scimitar sword in Pakistan.
His lawyers asked for bail on strict conditions, noting the seriousness of the charges.
But Ms Perks said no conditions would be sufficient to ensure public safety, given his extreme religious beliefs.
“He simply believes these things,” she said.
“He intended to carry out these threats.”
Magistrate Bernadette Boss agreed, saying he would be a significant risk to the community, acknowledging the opinion of a psychiatrist that he did pose a threat.
The case will be back in court later this month.
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