Kurt Fritz: North Coast rugby league player guilty of making threats

A NSW North Coast football player has appeared in Grafton Court after turning himself into police for an incident that left the victim “terrified”.

A South Grafton footballer who pleaded guilty to making threats has sparked an argument in court on what it actually means to be on bail and whether or not good behaviour is required.

The Grafton man allegedly intimidated a woman in Grafton threatening to “bash” her and saying “I’ll shoot you in the head”.

Sawmill worker and former North Coast footy player Kurt Fritz, 34, appeared in Grafton Local Court on April 5, 2022 and pleaded guilty to one count of stalk or intimidate with the intention of causing fear, physical or mental harm in relation to an incident which occurred between 2.1pm and 2.43pm on March 29.

Mr Fritz presented himself to Grafton police on April 4.

The police fact sheet revealed the victim was “terrified” as she believed Mr Fritz had access to firearms.

The exact circumstances of the offending were not settled as the parties had not agreed to the facts.

The court heard the offence occurred while Mr Fritz was already on bail.

What does being on bail imply?

Magistrate Kathy Crittenden noted Mr Fritz’s case was interesting because “there is no condition of the bail that he doesn’t commit further offences”.

This sparked a back and forth discussion on what it means to be on bail.

Solicitor Jason Hatch told the court “There’s an ambiguity in the Bail Act”.

NSW Police Prosecutor Sergeant Ursula Kryj argued that “ … bail conditions imply that they (the accused) be on good behaviour whether it’s written or not”.

Ms Crittenden told the court bail is “not a way of regulating behaviour”.

Ms Crittenden described the alleged offences as “very serious matters” and concluded a breach had not been established but a fresh offence had been committed.

On that basis bail was revoked and Mr Fritz remains in custody on remand.