Jason John Morrell: Issue of fitness raised in case of alleged child predator

Police posing as young girls claim they caught an alleged would-be child predator from southwest Sydney scouring the internet looking to hook up with teens. Read the latest.

A southwestern Sydney man who police claim was trawling the internet for weeks looking for sex with 14 and 13 year old girls could face a hearing before a judge to determine whether he’s fit to take part in a trial.

A legal representative for Bringelly resident Jason John Morrell fronted Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday where it was revealed the issue of fitness had been raised in the 32-year-old’s case.

Fitness is related to an accused person’s ability to partake in a trial, not his or her mental condition at the time of the offence.

According to court documents, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) allege that between May 19, and June 8, 2021 at Bringelly, Morrell used a carriage service to speak to someone that he thought was a 14-year-old girl with the intention to procure her for sexual activity.

It is further alleged that between July 12 and July 26, 2021 at Bossley Park, he was communicating with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl with the same intention.

Morrell had also been charged with two counts of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, two counts of using a carriage service to send indecent material to a person under 16 and using a carriage service to do or plan harm to a person under 16 years.

Jason John Morrell.

However, those five charges have all been withdrawn by the prosecution.

At Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday, a representative for the CDPP said the defence had raised the issue of fitness.

Certain conditions have been recognised as capable of causing unfitness, including mental illness and an intellectual disability. However it was not revealed in court why the issue of fitness had been raised in Morrell’s case.

“The consented position is to seek a six week adjournment to have Morrell assessed,” she said. “There will either be a consented view [between the legal parties] or it will proceed to the District Court for a fitness hearing.”

The matter has been adjourned and will return to Campbelltown Local Court on October 5.

In court during December 2021, it was revealed Morrell was a disability support pensioner who had been charged after officers allegedly caught him during a sting in which police pose as young girls.

Morrell remains in custody on remand. No pleas have been entered in the matter.