Anti-vaccine business owner faces court on unrelated health breaches

An alleged anti-vax business owner wore their masks beneath their noses as they fought to amend their bail condition in court.

UPDATE, JAN 14: ALLEGED anti-vax business owners wore their masks beneath their noses as they fought to amend their bail condition in court.

Territory Windscreens owner Stephen Anthony Arrigo and his son Dylan Arrigo appeared in Darwin Local Court on Friday.

Stephen faced allegations of contravention of an emergency declaration, failing to give his name and address to an officer and walking without due care on the road.

His son, Dylan said he was still seeking legal advice over the charge of failing to cease to loiter.

It comes as Windscreens Territory has been shut down by police and issued two separate $25,000 fines for remaining open while in breach of the Chief Health officers directions.

Anti-mandate and anti-vaccination demonstrators rallied at Windscreens Territory, Coconut Grove on Monday January 10, after it was shut down for not complying with the chief health officer’s directions. Picture: Zizi Averill

Both father and son chose to self represent themselves before Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris.

Stephen pleaded with Ms Morris to amend his bail conditions to allow him to continue to work in the Darwin CBD.

“I’ve been struggling for the last few weeks because I work in town,” he said.

Stephen said he was an essential worker and needed to be mobile to conduct his windscreen repair business.

But the prosecutor said Stephen was never banned from going into the city for work.

“It says not to enter the CBD unless specifically for employment purposes,” the prosecutor said.

The pair were supported by fellow anti-mandate advocates in the courtroom, including David Cole who was also spotted with his mask under his nose.

Next door Judge John Neill chastised anti-mandate leader Christopher Jason Bell over the phone for continued delays to his case.

“You were here before this court on the 30th of November. That’s 45 days ago, and you’re telling me that you still need to get to first base,” Mr Neill said.

“And of course you’ve done little to get yourself legal representation.”

Bell was charged with contravention of an emergency declaration, taking part in a riot and hindering a member of the police force.

He did not appear in person because of the mask mandate and represented himself over a phone call into the court.

Bell told the court he was waiting on video evidence from the Police before deciding how he would plead.

Mr Neill said he would have to appear in person for his next court date on February 4.

while the Arrigo’s will return on February 11.

EARLIER, JAN 6: ANTI-vaccine mandate protester Kurt Ruzsicska had his case adjourned after outlining that he intended to plead not guilty to charges including taking part in a riot.

Ruzsicska is the latest protester to face the Darwin Local Court on charges of taking part in a riot and hindering a member of the police force on November 6.

That particular rally turned sour when rocks and pepper spray were exchanged between rioters and police.

Ruzsicska, and his party, appeared in court without face masks and when asked if he had one on hand claimed he had a medical exemption.

Protestors in Court

Under current Northern Territory health regulations face masks are to be worn by everyone while indoors.

Representing himself he outlined that he was searching for evidence which included the names of police officers who were on duty on the day of the protest.

And while stating that he intended to plead not guilty to the charges said he would need time to collect all of the evidence.

Judge Thomasin Opie said the case would be adjourned until February 11 to allow evidence to be compiled by the police.

“If you’re saying that you’re not guilty we will adjourn so that police can give you all the evidence they are relying on and you may or may not seek legal advice,” she said.

“You can consider that evidence and make decisions about which witnesses you want to call on.”

He is the latest protester to appear before the court with the family of David Cole appearing days before Christmas for a bail alteration which would allow them access to the Darwin CBD for anything except to appear in another rally.

Originally published as Anti-vaccine business owner faces court on unrelated health breaches