Heath Parkinson: Man acquitted of murder threatens to kill pub owner

A man acquitted of murder less than eight months ago has threatened to kill an Albury pub owner after he was caught punching on with a pokie machine.

CCTV recorded Heath Parkinson punching pokie machines and damaging an ATM at the Astor. Picture: file

A Lavington man who was acquitted of murder in June last year, has threatened to kill a local pub owner.

Heath Kevin Parkinson faced Albury Local Court today pleading guilty to stalk/intimidate with the intent to cause fear or physical harm, and destroy/damage property.

Less than eight months ago, Parkinson was found not guilty of murder, on the grounds of self defence, following the death of Corowa man Christopher Quirk in 2018.

The court heard on January 20 this year, Parkinson was visiting the Astor Hotel on Young St when he approached bar staff at about 10.05pm to tell them the ATM was broken.

Bar staff were suspicious and called hotel licensee Joshua Cale at home and asked him to check CCTV cameras at the ATM machine.
In the CCTV footage, Mr Cale could see Parkinson using excessive force on the ATM causing damage.

Mr Cale told staff to call police while he made his way to the hotel.
When he arrived, Mr Cale heard loud banging coming from the pokies room and, upon checking CCTV cameras, witnessed Parkinson punching the pokies machines.

When Parkinson attempted to leave the hotel, Mr Cale caught up with him and asked if he knew anything about the ATM.
Parkinson said: “Nah I’m the bloke who told your barman about it.”

Mr Cale then told Parkinson he had CCTV footage of him damaging the machine.

“Are you calling me a f------ liar?” Parkinson said.
Mr Cale told Parkinson he saw him rip the front of the machine down at which point Parkinson became aggressive and asked Mr Cale if he knew who he was, to which Mr Cale responded: “no I don’t.”

“Well you should find out who I am. I’m Heath Parkinson. I’ll f------ kill you,” Parkinson said.

When Mr Cale told him he wasn’t allowed back inside, Parkinson punched the front door of the hotel and used his thumb to making a “slitting” sign across his throat.

Police later found Parkinson walking down Young St, stating he was aggressive and appeared to be under the influence of a drug.

Parkinson appeared in court via video link from Parklea prison where he has remained in custody since his arrest.

He blew a kiss to his mother and partner who supported him in the courtroom.

Parkinson’s defence solicitor Samantha Little said the accused suffered from PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

“He acknowledges the emotional damage he caused to the victim,” Ms Little told the court.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Pike argued that the threshold for jail had been crossed given the accused’s prior history, and the seriousness of the crime.

Magistrate Miranda Moody acknowledged Parkinson’s prior history in both Victoria and NSW.

“He has a very bad history of violence and must have been very frightening to the worker at that hotel,” Ms Moody said.

Ms Moody said she would take into account the 18 days Parkinson had already been in custody.

He was sentenced to an 18 month community corrections order with supervision, and the condition that he undergo an anger management course. Parkinson must also pay $566.50 in compensation to the victim.

Parkinson leaned back in his chair and breathed a huge sigh of relief, running his hands through his hair as the magistrate handed down his sentence.