Journalist James Waugh granted bail after allegedly threatening to behead churchgoers
A former journalist purchased a scimitar sword from Pakistan which he threatened to use to cut off churchgoers heads, a court has heard.
Canberra Star
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A former journalist accused of threatening to behead members of a Canberra church has been granted bail.
James Michael Waugh was arrested at his Griffith home in April after he allegedly made threats on social media that he was “going to kill” members of the Canberra House of Prayer.
Magistrate James Lawton on Wednesday approved the former Queanbeyan Age reporter’s bid for freedom on several conditions including that he not use any form of social media or go within 100m of complainants.
Prosecutor Vivian Wei opposed bail, telling the court recent mental health assessments had demonstrated he still posed a risk to the public due to his “extreme religious beliefs”.
Ms Wei described the offences allegedly committed by Mr Waugh, who appeared via videolink, as “highly premeditated” as he had ordered a scimitar from Pakistan, which he had threatened to cut off Christians’ heads with.
She tendered an assessment from a doctor who was “of the opinion the defendant remains unwell and suffering from ongoing delusions”.
The court heard these beliefs had resulted in the 28-year-old becoming homeless, losing his girlfriend and his job as a journalist and had also led to homicidal and suicidal ideations.
Ms Wei told the court threats made by Mr Waugh, including a Facebook post which read: “I’m going to kill every single one of you dog polytheist c***s”, was “particularly alarming in this day and age”.
In a Facebook messenger group chat he allegedly wrote: “I have issued threats, along with my name and address, to every coward dog church in Canberra”.
“These religious beliefs are ongoing and longstanding and fixated,” she said.
Mr Waugh has pleaded not guilty to three charges of possessing an object to be used to kill or cause grievous bodily harm, threatening to act with intent to cause public alarm and using a carriage service to menace/harass.
But Mr Waugh’s lawyer Helen Hayunga said he was receiving medication and clinical management including anti depressants for “post psychotic depression”.
“He’s being diagnosed with a delusional disorder with evidence of psycho social deterioration over a period of perhaps two years before being charged,” she said.
Ms Hayunga said close family friends had offered appropriate accommodation for him and his mother had offered to post a surety.
“It’s one thing for a person to have views that might be considered eccentric and even bizarre but another to act upon them,” she said.
Magistrate Lawton granted bail with a number of conditions including that he not contact complainants, use any social media or go within 100m of the Canberra House of Prayer.
The matter was adjourned till February 24.