Wesley Murray: Warwick school counsellor threatened to kill woman

A Warwick man who menaced a woman with up to 69 phone calls in a single day and at one point threatened to kill her has fronted court, where it was heard he needs a Blue Card to continue working with children.

Warwick counsellor Wesley Murray has pleaded guilty to harassing his ex-partner, with a court told he bombarded her with phone calls and threatened to kill her.

A Warwick school counsellor who menaced the mother of his children after the relationship breakdown, bombarded her with up to 69 calls in a single day and at one point threatened to kill her.

Wesley Jay Murray targeted his ex-partner with hundreds of phone calls and voice messages in a period of less than two weeks after the couple separated in August 2022.

The woman, with whom Murray shares five children, became so harassed by the phone calls and fearful he would arrive at her home, she went to police in September.

Despite an initial court order being amended to provide further restrictions on the 38-year-old’s contact with his victim, Murray continued his phone harassment of the woman in December, at one point calling her while she was with police to make a complaint.

Murray also threatened to cut the woman’s throat, kill a man she believed she was with, and called her a motherf----r, the court was told.

The father of five was escorted to the Warwick Magistrates Court dock from the watch-house on Monday morning, where he pleaded guilty to two counts each of using a carriage service to menace or harass and breaching a domestic violence order.

Defence lawyer Hamish Chapman told the court the threats to kill were a case of “hyperbole” and insisted his client never intended to hurt the woman.

“Victims often don’t know that, do they?” Magistrate Virginia Sturgess responded.

Mr Chapman said Murray, who hadn’t been before the court in seven years, had an issue with alcohol and it was the reason his life was in turmoil.

“If he could serve to shake that he could very well continue to be a contributing member of society,” he said.

“It is clear he needs some assistance.”

Mr Chapman told the court Murray needed a Blue Card to continue his work as an Aboriginal support counsellor at Assumption College, and that convictions recorded on his criminal history could impede that.

Ms Sturgess condemned Murray’s behaviour toward the mother of his children.

“When a relationship is over, it’s over. You cannot force a person to be with you or love you and it is counter-productive to bombard a person with harassment and threats,” she said.

“That is the least likely way to get people to change their mind about you.

“Alcohol is said to be a contributing factor to your offending, Mr Murray and indeed I can see from your history it is likely alcohol has been an issue for you.

“The offences you do have on your history are indicative of alcohol problems.”

Murray was placed on probation for 12 months and ordered to complete domestic violence and alcohol counselling and programs as directed.

He was also placed on a $1000 good behaviour bond for 12 months.

Harassment call log

Sept 18: 13 calls, including 1.18am and 3.02am

Sept 19: 5 calls, including three between 12.14am and 6am

Sept 20: 1 call

Sept 21: 3 calls

Sept 22: 2 calls

Sept 23: 1 call

Sept 25: 5 calls

Sept 26: 49 calls

Sept 27: 69 calls

Sept 28: 62 calls, including 8 between 3.58am and 5.28am

Sept 29: 10 calls, including 2 at 5.28am

Sept 20: 22 calls

Oct 1: 8 calls