Jarred Matthews sent death threats to Police Minister David Elliott
On the same weekend Black Lives Matter protests were held across the country, a man from the Hunter sent death threats to NSW Police Minister David Elliott via Facebook. After pleading guilty to the offence, the court head the man now intends to also plead guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm.
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A Lake Macquarie man has pleaded guilty to sending death threats to NSW Police Minister David Elliott last month.
Jarred Matthews, 25, made threats over Facebook on Sunday June 7, the same weekend of the Black Lives Matter protests across the country.
It’s understood the Minister received dozens of Facebook messages offering feedback from voters — including several abusive messages.
It’s not known whether Mr Matthews was a protester.
He was arrested a day later at a Belmont address after an alert was raised.
During the search, detectives found cannabis, medication without a prescription, two gel blasters and ammunition which were seized for forensic examination.
He was charged with using a carriage service to threaten to kill, possessing cannabis and a prescribed restricted substance — alprazolam, and possessing an unauthorised pistol and “gel gun”.
In Belmont Local Court on Monday, Mr Matthews didn’t appear but pleas of guilty were entered via email for all charges except one of possession of a prohibited firearm.
The court heard Mr Matthews intended to also plead guilty to that charge following representations made from his solicitor Kate Maher.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appeared via video link and said he needed to speak to Mr Matthew’s solicitor to discuss whether the matters would be kept in the local court.
“I need to seek instructions,’ Rory Macken said.
It’s been adjourned until September 2.
In an unrelated incident, Mr Elliott’s electoral office was also vandalised the same weekend of the protest with the word “resign” written in graffiti.
It came after Mr Elliott declared police would refuse to authorise any further large protests during the COVID-19 pandemic.