James Michael Waugh, former Queanbeyan Age reporter has fronted court over threats
A court has heard a former journalist who threatened to behead Christians in the front yard of his home still held the same beliefs and “would cut off the hands of anyone who stole from him”.
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A former Canberra journalist who threatened to behead Christians in the front yard of his home as a reprisal for the Christchurch terror attack has narrowly avoided being locked back up after skipping his bail and fleeing to Queensland.
James Michael Waugh, 29, a former reporter for The Queanbeyan Age, surrendered himself to the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, after a magistrate earlier this month issued a warrant for his arrest when he failed to show up to court.
Waugh in February pleaded guilty to two counts of making threats to kill members of two Canberra churches.
Court records show Waugh sent a message to a Canberra pastor saying: “I want your address … I’m going to cut you down like the dog you are, pray to God about that”.
He also said a former housemate — who was a new age Christian — “should be gutted like a f***ing dog”, among other threats.
Waugh has described himself as a “white nationalist Muslim” and the court on Tuesday heard he did not recognise the Australian Government and that the laws of the country do not apply to him.
In a court-ordered report, Waugh stated he still had the same beliefs as at the time of his offending, and that he would cut off the hands of anyone who stole from him.
Waugh’s mother, Karina Anderson, told the court her son could live with her in Orange until he is sentenced.
Ms Anderson said if she thought her son was a danger, she would say that he should be locked up.
Prosecutor Erin Priestly said Waugh posed a danger to the community, had shown a “flagrant disregard for his bail conditions”, and should be refused bail.
Waugh left for Queensland despite being refused a variation to his bail, and despite not being granted permission to travel interstate by corrections.
Ms Karina told the court her son “did not flee to Queensland as has been said in the media”.
Ms Priestly said Waugh’s offences were committed on social media and that him being in Orange would not prevent him from reoffending.
Magistrate Beth Campbell granted Waugh bail, and told Ms Anderson she was “in effect going to be his jailor for the next period of time”.
Ms Campbell banned Waugh from accessing any social media accounts, from being near the two churches whose members he threatened to kill, among a string of bail conditions.
Waugh is due to be sentenced in May.