David Maurice Wise: Man who left petrol-filled jerry can on Palestine supporter’s car learns fate in court

An eastern suburbs man who left a petrol-filled jerry can on a Palestine supporter’s car before making a threatening phone call has been sentenced in court.

David Maurice Wise.

The lawyer for a man who left what appeared to be an ‘IED’ on a Palestinian supporter’s car before making a threatening call weeks later said his client felt like he was in a dreamlike state and there was no evidence of “terrorist ideology”.

He rejected the police’s description that the “device” was portrayed to be an “improvised explosive device” (IED) saying it was deemed to be “inert” and questioned whether it would have “blown up” if the petrol was lit.

David Maurice Wise appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday where an application to dismiss the matter under mental health was rejected by Magistrate Megran Greenwood after he previously pleaded guilty to leaving an article to cause alarm, using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend and enter enclosed land.

The 44-year-old also pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking or intimidation.

Police were called to an address in Botany on January 5 after a resident found a suspicious item on his car with a note reading: “ENOUGH! TAKE DOWN FLAG! ONE CHANCE!!!!”

The resident whose car it was had a Palestine flag outside his home at the time.

An object left on a Palestine supporter's car in Botany in January 2024.

The court heard weeks later Wise made a threatening call to the victim from a phone box.

Wise’s barrister George Thomas detailed his client’s history of mental illness, including documented concerns about him being depressed, suicidal thoughts, and having “vivid dreams” which were sometimes violent.

A man, who cannot be identified, had even become worried Wise would “go over the edge” and go to prison with Mr Thomas explaining it had “unfolded” with these court proceedings.

The court heard Wise had become “fixated in what he believed to be” false information regarding the Gaza conflict and he “attempted to present an alternative view”.

Mr Thomas said due to the victim allegedly declining to acknowledge Wise’s views mixed in with his “disordered mind”, it caused him to offend.

“He took it personally … [he] only had a dream like memory of placing the offending items [on the car],” he said.

The court heard Wise didn’t “hold anti-Muslim or anti-Palestinian beliefs” and as Mr Thomas explained, he had a close friend who was both.

“There’s no … charge of terrorism,” Mr Thomas said.

“No case to be made here that he has terrorist ideologies.”

Mr Thomas said his client had a “very significant mental disorder … in play at the time” and it was driven by a personal issue.

He proposed Wise would attend a three week rehab clinic before being released into the care of two reasonable people while following a treatment plan.

In reply, police prosecutor Adrian Walsh argued against Mr Thomas’ description of the device, saying it was portrayed as an IED and people wouldn’t have any idea “what would trigger it”.

Ms Greenwood rejected Wise’s mental health bid due to it being “very serious”.

Mr Thomas said the threshold for jail had not been crossed by his client due to his mental health and he did not pose a risk to the community’s safety.

This was rejected by Mr Walsh who said full-time imprisonment was the only option.

Wise was ultimately sentenced to one year jail with a three-month non-parole period.

One of the victim’s speaking outside court told The Daily Telegraph they were pleased the magistrate had recognised Wise is a danger to the broader community and those supporting Palestine.