Sunshine Coast residents who disobeyed Covid-19 rules have faced magistrates court

These Sunshine Coast residents have learned the hard way that Covid-19 health orders are no joke. And their decisions landed them in court.

Most Sunshine Coast residents have been doing the right thing during the latest lockdown but others have been caught flouting the rules.

The Daily has looked back at some of cases where people thought it was a good idea to go against health orders but ended up in court instead.

Zachary Elias Spencer

Zachary Elias Spencer, 22, was sentenced for spitting towards Centrelink staff and threatening to stomp on his dog’s head during a “fit of rage”.

He was on February 11 placed on probation for 12 months for his outburst at Nambour Centrelink on December 8, 2020.

Police prosecutor Lee Allan told the Maroochydore Magistrates Court Spencer, from Nambour, threatened to stab people and go to jail.

“He‘s threatened to stomp on the head of his dog Little Dot that is currently being cared for by his mother,” he said.

“He spat on the floor in the direction of the staff member, two times on the carpet … clearly acting in a manner which would likely cause apprehension or fear of being exposed to COVID-19.”

Spencer pleaded guilty to four charges including failing to comply with a COVID-19 public health direction.

The court heard he had previously received probation for his behaviour.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said the Nambour incident was deplorable and the key for Spencer was to remain on his medication.

Convictions were recorded.

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Shannon Lorraine Harriet Green

Shannon Lorraine Harriet Green had been transferred from Caloundra Private Hospital to Nambour General Hospital when she became "noisy and boisterous" towards hospital staff. Picture: Laura Pettigrew

Shannon Lorraine Harriet Green who threatened to kill a nurse and spat in a Coast hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic described her actions cringe-worthy, a court has heard.

Green had been taken from Caloundra Private Hospital to Nambour General Hospital when she became “noisy and boisterous” towards hospital staff.

“She was heard by the clinical nurse to say I will kill you and your family, words to that effect,” police prosecutor Nick Nitschke told the Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

“(Green) continued to use these words and also say ‘give me medication you c …, f … off you fat c….”

The court heard Green made the threat after medication was not dispensed the way she wanted.

She pleaded guilty on April 19 to failing to comply with COVID-19 public health direction and public nuisance.

Magistrate Rob Turra said Green’s mental health conditions didn’t excuse her “appalling” behaviour against the nurses.

He placed Green on a $500 good behaviour bond for 12 months.

No convictions were recorded.

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Narjia Catherine Rachel Murphy

Narjia Catherine Rachel Murphy burst into tears when she thought she was going back to prison for committing 13 offences, including breaching a Covid public health direction, at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court.

Murphy, 25, from Maroochydore, pleaded guilty on May 18 to all 13 charges, which included six counts of breach of bail, two counts of possession of dangerous drugs and driving with a drug present between June 2018 and April this year.

The most serious of the offences was the breach of the Covid public health direction on April 16, 2020 at Slacks Creek, when Murphy entered a public place for a non-essential purpose.

Narjia Catherine Rachel Murphy faced Beenleigh District Court.

The court heard Murphy had a difficult upbringing in Logan, having lost her mother at a young age and experienced violence at the hands of several romantic partners, from which she still suffers the psychological scars.

Murphy’s lawyer told the court it was for this reason his client struggled to meet her day-to-day obligations and failed to report to parole on so many occasions.

Murphy was sentenced to six months’ probation and fined $1300.

Convictions were recorded.

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