David Maurice Wise: Man who allegedly made threatening call for Palestine supporter has bid to hide name rejected

A man accused of leaving what a magistrate said appeared to be a ‘molotov cocktail’ on a car before making a threatening phone call to a Palestine supporter has failed in his bid to suppress his name.

David Maurice Wise was denied bail at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.

A man accused of leaving what a magistrate said appeared to be a “molotov cocktail” on a car at Botany before making a threatening phone call to a Palestine supporter weeks later has failed in his bid to suppress his name.

David Maurice Wise appeared via video link at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday where he is yet to enter pleas to two counts of stalking or intimidation, sending an article to cause alarm, using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend and enter enclosed land.

Police were called to Daphne St, Botany, after a resident found a suspicious item on his car on January 5.

A note taped to the item read: “ENOUGH! TAKE DOWN FLAG! ONE CHANCE!!!!”.

Rescue and Bomb Squad officers deemed the item safe, and detectives established a crime scene.

Police say the same resident then allegedly received a threatening phone call on February 16, prompting him to again alert police.

After extensive inquiries, police searched a property on Thursday when several items were seized.

The item appearing to look like a bomb taped to the car.

Police said a 43-year-old man was later arrested and taken to Mascot police station.

In opposing Wise’s bail on Friday, the police prosecutor argued there was risk of him committing a further serious offence.

Wise’s lawyer said her client had a supportive father and he was aware of an apprehended violence order to protect the alleged victims.

She proposed bail conditions requiring Wise not to approach the alleged victims and he was willing to report to police.

Despite declaring Wise’s record was “unremarkable”, Magistrate Megan Greenwood quickly interjected, saying the alleged offences were “serious”.

The ‘suspicious item’ allegedly left on the car.

The device used by the Rescue and Bomb Squad.

The lawyer noted her client was compliant with police but accepted the alleged facts were “worrying”.

Ms Greenwood noted the matter was a broader community issue, “given (Wise’s) very strong political views”.

She told the court the accusations against Wise occurred over two weeks and the alleged victims felt “strongly” about the Palestinian cause, to the point where they put a noticeboard out the front of their house.

Ms Greenwood said the allegations involved what appeared to be a jerry can with fuel which some refer to as a “molotov cocktail” and there were phone calls made.

While accepting the man had an “extremely minimal history”, Ms Greenwood noted he told police he was “supportive of the actions of the Israeli government in relation to … Gaza”.

“That is why the offences are alleged to have occurred,” she said.

“It is a strong case against this man and I think all up it’s my view that (he could expect) an imprisonment-type sentence.”

Wise was ultimately refused bail. However he interrupted, asking for a suppression order on his name out of fear for his safety.

He said he could face “retribution from fanatical Palestinian supporters … which we’ve seen at the Opera House”.

His bid was rejected and the matter will return to court next week.