Man accused of stalking SA Premier Steven Marshall wants to plead guilty, but psychiatrist report says he may not understand his actions
A man accused of stalking the Premier has told a court he wants to plead guilty, but a psychiatrist’s report says he may not know it was wrong.
Police & Courts
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A man accused of stalking Premier Steven Marshall has told a court he wants to plead guilty – but a psychiatrist says he may not have understood the wrongfulness of his actions.
Simon Key, 42, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday.
He was arrested in May and charged with one count of stalking a person to influence the performance of a public officer.
Key was further charged with one count of threatening to cause harm to another.
Previously, SA Police have alleged Key left an “threatening, aggressive and abusive” voicemail on Mr Marshall’s phone.
They further alleged Key named other MPs including Stephen Wade, Vickie Chapman and Corey Wingard in that message.
It was alleged, in court, Key had a “long history” of such behaviour and had come to the attention of counter-terrorism officers in the past.
Following the arrest, Mr Marshall said he had no intention of increasing security around himself nor his Cabinet, and “felt safe”.
On Thursday, prosecutors said they had completed their review of the police file and would proceed only on the stalking count.
Key, who is in custody, said he wanted to enter his plea to that charge despite not having hired a lawyer.
“I’m prepared to push through with it by myself, please,” he said.
“I would like to give notice I’m intending to plead guilty today.”
The state’s chief magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, expressed concern with that course.
“There is, on the file, a psychiatric report written on August 18,” she said.
“The opinion expressed is that it’s ‘very likely (Key) could not reason about whether his conduct, as perceived by reasonable people, would be wrong’.
“However, the opinion is also that (Key) is mentally fit to stand trial or enter a plea.”
She said the psychiatrist’s diagnosis was only preliminary, and that “more work” needed to be done.
“I will note your intention to plead guilty, but this matter might need to go down a different path,” she told Key.
He said his intention had not changed, but asked the court provide him with a copy of the report.
Judge Hribal agreed and remanded him in custody until October, when he will answer the charge.