Erratic Sydney terror offender now mentally ‘stable’ and ready for release, court hears

A schizophrenic terror offender who spoke of beheading police and threatened to murder a Sydney magistrate is now mentally “stable” and ready to be released from jail, according to his legal team.

A schizophrenic terror offender who spoke of beheading police and threatened to murder a Sydney magistrate is now mentally “stable” and ready to be released from jail, according to his legal team.

But the government says Blake Pender is still dangerous and likely to commit another offence, despite serving his entire four-year prison term for terror-related knife possession and threatening a judicial officer, which expired last month.

The minister for home affairs has applied for the 30-year-old to be detained for a further three years.

Blake Pender is escorted to a Corrective Services prison transport vehicle at the NSW Supreme Court in 2019. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

Pender’s barrister Matt Johnston SC told the NSW Supreme Court in submissions on Tuesday, the risk of Pender using drugs or alcohol, or his mental health deteriorating, could be managed in the community.

“His mental health has stabilised...he’s ready to go,” Mr Johnston said.

A judge will decide whether Pender is to be released from prison

Pender would live at a Uniting Care residential facility which has 24/7 carers trained in managing mental health issues, he said.

And he would meet with his caseworker weekly, abide by a curfew and undergo drug tests.

“These people will pick up if there is a deterioration of his mental health. (They) will pick up if he is under the substance of alcohol or drugs,” Mr Johnston told the court.

Perry Herzfeld SC told the court mental health experts believe Pender would not engage with support services on the outside.

He said there was a risk Pender’s mental health would deteriorate “rapidly”, within days and go undetected.

Justice Richard Cavanagh reserved his decision.

In June 2017, the convert Muslim waged war against the Australian public, in a series of shocking events which led to his imprisonment.

He was arrested after the police saw him near an officer with a knife on a Surry Hills street before he bragged: “the proudest thing a man can do is behead a cop”.

The following day in court Pender blasted: “When I get out I will be blowing myself up. I will be killing the military and the police. Allahu Akbar,” he said in court.

“F*** you judge you’ll be next. Allahu Akbar, Inshallah … f*** you, I’ll cut your f****** head off you dog. I told you I’ll f******’ kill everyone in that courtroom.”