John Anderson, aka Fast Buck$, will defend an allegation he intimidated deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye
A 74-year-old will fight charges which arose from his alleged conduct toward Byron’s deputy mayor
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The case against a Byron Shire man charged with intimidating the deputy mayor won’t be heard for more than seven months.
John Christopher Anderson, also known as Fast Buck$, is facing charges of intimidation with intent to cause physical or mental harm and contravening an apprehended violence order.
When the 74-year-old, from Coorabell, faced Byron Bay Local Court on Monday, he confirmed he would be maintaining his pleas of not guilty to both allegations.
A formal AVO was imposed to prevent Mr Anderson from approaching Byron Shire deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye on June 7 this year, a day when he didn’t appear in court.
This order was later annulled and Mr Anderson will fight the imposition of a formal order along with his criminal charges.
Police will allege that on June 2, when he was already subject to a preliminary AVO, he breached it by placing an advertisement directed at her in a local newspaper.
They will also allege his behaviour toward Ms Ndiaye has amounted to intimidation.
Mr Anderson was ejected from two consecutive Byron Shire Council meetings earlier this year and police were called on both occasions.
The court heard on Monday police had now served a brief of evidence upon the accused.
Mr Anderson told the court he would be calling at least three defence witnesses.
He said there would also be “transcripts of a couple of radio interviews and transcripts of council meetings to consider”.
The prosecution is also expected to call three witnesses.
Mr Anderson has so far been self-represented and he told the court it was ”unlikely” he would have a lawyer for the hearing.
Magistrate Karen Stafford scheduled the matter for a one-day hearing on April 5, 2022 – the first day available for a hearing of this length.
Ms Stafford said if any further evidence was to be filed by the prosecution, it must be served on Mr Anderson 14 days prior to the hearing.
Outside court, Mr Anderson strongly denied the allegations.s
He has previously suggested he may wish to run for council and he said this was still on the cards, even though the current interim AVO prohibits him from entering the council’s Mullumbimby chamber of administration office.
“I’m not saying that (I’m definitely running), but I’m not that well; I’ve got medical problems and I don’t have a lot of energy but things are bad in (council),” Mr Anderson said.
Mr Anderson said he would claim in court one of the interactions relied upon by police did not take place.
Cowardly ‘repeat DV offender’ jailed for punching woman
A Kyogle forklift driver has been jailed for punching a woman in the face after drinks at the Nimbin Hotel, breaching an apprehended violence order. Here’s what we know.
‘I only punched her in the face’: Man in court for cowardly attack
A North Coast man bashed his partner and tried to carry her away from a shopping centre to stop her seeking help as numerous triple-0 calls were made by worried bystanders.